Composer

Claude Debussy

French classical composer (1862–1918)

1862–1918

1,660 works and musical collections

Born: 1862
Died: 1918
Birthplace: Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Place of death: 16th arrondissement of Paris
Citizenship / historical state: France
Period (estimated from birth year): Modern

Biography

Debussy changed what the piano could sound like, and his music is notated with unusual precision about pedal, dynamics and voicing because those things are the substance rather than the decoration.

Clair de lune is the most-bought piano piece in this catalogue and one of the most misjudged: it is not difficult to read and it is very difficult to play well, because it depends entirely on control of quiet dynamics and pedal. The Children's Corner suite and the two books of Arabesques are the realistic starting points. The Préludes and Images are advanced.

Editions matter here for an unusual reason: his pedal markings and enharmonic spellings are deliberate and older "improved" editions altered both. Buy an edition that follows the original text, and treat any collection that regularises his notation as a warning sign.

Life and musical career

Occupations: composer; pianist; music critic
Education: Conservatoire de Paris
Teachers: Antoine-François Marmontel; Albert Lavignac
Recorded memberships: Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Instruments played: piano
Genres: opera; classical music; impressionist music
Movements: impressionism in music; Symbolism
Selected notable works: Pelléas et Mélisande; Préludes; Children's Corner; La Damoiselle élue; Suite bergamasque; Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune; Petite Suite; Deux arabesques; String Quartet; La mer; Images; PrincessesJeux de princess
Awards: Knight of the Legion of Honour; Prix de Rome
Birth name: Claude Achille Debussy
Languages used: French
VIAF ID: 6219636
ISNI: 0000000121190614
GND ID: 118524186
Library of Congress ID: n79132137
MusicBrainz ID: be50643c-0377-4968-b48c-47e06b2e2a3b

Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments: Piano, Voice, Clarinet, Flute, Harp
Genres represented: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Children, Christmas
Source entries with composition dates: 118

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Sheet music catalogue page 9 of 35

Instruments describe listed editions, including arrangements. Composition dates and keys appear where recorded; collection pages show their individual contents.

Works and musical collections with sheet music details
Title	Work details	Listed instruments	Sheet music
Worried Man Blues	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Diane Ouverture	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Divertissement	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
3. La Mort de Pelleas (Act IV, sc. 4)	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les soirs illumines par l'ardeur du charbon	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fut-il jamais douceur	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Thinking Of Kathy	See work details	Guitar Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 1: Soupir	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 3: Le tombeau des Naiades	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 4: Ballet	See work details	Orchestra Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les Estampes	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
String Quartet In G minor, Movt. 1	Key in title G minor	String Quartet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwog's Cake-Walk from Children's Corner - Trombone 2	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwog's Cake-Walk from Children's Corner - Piano	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour un tombeay sans nom	See work details	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwog's Cakewalk - Score and Parts	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 2: Placet futile	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 3: De fleurs: Dans l'ennui si desolement vert	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
String Quartet In G minor, Movt. 2	Key in title G minor	String Quartet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwog's Cake-Walk from Children's Corner - Trombone 1	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum from Children's Corner - Piano	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour la danseuse aux crotales - Score	See work details	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour la danseuse aux crotales - Preface	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner No. 6: Golliwogg's Cakewalk	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
En blanc et noir, Movement 1	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
String Quartet In G minor, Movt. 3	Key in title G minor	String Quartet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner No. 1: Docteur Gradus ad Parnassum	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 4: De soir: Dimanche sur les villes	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 2: La chevelure	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois Chansons, I. Dieu! Qu'il la fait bon regarder!, Lord! Lovely hast thou made my dear	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 3: Eventail	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Petit Suite 1 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
String Quartet In G minor, Movt. 4	Key in title G minor	String Quartet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danse in E Major	Key in title E major	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwog's Cake-Walk from Children's Corner - Tuba	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ballet from Petite Suite - Score	See work details	Orchestra Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner No. 3: Serenade of the Doll	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 3: Jet D'eau	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Petite Pièce and Prèmiere Rhapsodie	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ballet from Petite Suite: String Bass	See work details	Orchestra Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Rhapsody For Clarinet And Orchestra	See work details	Clarinet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Three Chansons	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Petite Pi	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Élégie, L. 138	See work details	Piano Clarinet Saxophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Deux danses pour Harpe, L. 103 2 excerpt listings	Catalogue / opus L 103	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Diane, comédie héroique - Overture	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Estampes 9 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Invocation: Choeur pour voix d'hommes et orchestre	Year composed 1883	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. The biography above is our own. Authority record: VIAF 6219636. Portrait: Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.