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Claude Debussy
Country France
Birth Aug 22, 1862 in St.-Germain-en-Laye, France
Death Mar 25, 1918 in Paris, France
Period Modern
Composition All Works (300)
Types Keyboard Music (117)
Vocal Music (112)
Chamber Music (24)
Orchestral Music (18)
Choral Music (13)
Opera (5)
Ballet Music (3)
Concerto (2)
Symphony (1)

Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918) was among the most important French
composers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Al-
though he himself disliked the association, his music was, and has re-
mained, strongly associated with the techniques and ideals of impres-
sionist painting as well as those of the French symbolist writers. His
use of non-traditional scales and tonal structures would serve as
paradigms for many composers to follow.
Debussy began piano studies at the Paris Conservatory at the age of
11. There, he encountered the wealthy Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck
(Tchaikovsky's benefactress), who took him under her wing and,
through travel, concerts and acquaintances, provided him with a
wealth of musical experience. Most importantly, she exposed the young Debussy to the works of
Russian composers, such as Borodin and Mussorgsky, who would remain important influences
on his music.
Debussy began composition studies in 1880, and in 1884 he won the prestigious Prix de Rome
with his cantata L'Enfant prodigue. This prize financed two years of further study in Rome --
years that proved to be creatively frustrating. The period immediately following, however, would
prove seminal for the young composer; trips to Bayreuth and the Paris World Exhibition (1889)
established, respectively, his dislike of Wagner, whose music he felt was unduly influential, and
his fascination with the music of eastern cultures, both of which would significantly contribute to
the development of his mature style.
Debussy wrote successfully in most every genre, adapting his distinctive compositional lan-
guage to the demands of each. His orchestral works, of which Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
(Prelude to the afternoon of a faun, 1894) and La Mer (The sea, 1905) are most familiar, estab-
lished him as a master of instrumental color and texture. It is undoubtedly this attention to tone
color -- his layering of sound upon sound so that they blend to form a greater, evocative whole --
that established him forever as the exponent of musical impressionism.
His works for solo piano, particularly his collections of Préludes and Études, which have re-
mained staples of the performing repertoire since their composition, bring into relief his assimil-
ation of elements from both Eastern cultures and antiquity -- especially pentatonicism (the use of
five-note scales), modality (the use of scales from ancient Greece and the medieval church), par-
allelism (the parallel movement of chords and lines), and the whole-tone scale (the octave di-
vided into six equal intervals -- arguably the most characteristic element of Debussy's musical
language).
His most famous opera, Pelléas et Mélisande (1902), and his collections of songs for solo voice
establish the strength of his connection to French literature and poetry. The writings of Mallarmé,
Maeterlinck, Baudelaire, and his childhood friend Paul Verlaine figure prominently in his choices
of texts, and form a symbiosis of expression and mood with the composer's style. -- Allen
Schrott

Keyboard Music

1881 Andante cantabile, for piano duet Andante for Keyboard

1888 Arabesque I, for piano, L. 66/1 Music for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1891 Arabesque II, for piano, L. 66/2
Work for Keyboard
1888 -1891 Arabesques (2) for piano, L. 66 Music for Keyboard
Ballade (slave), for piano (or piano, 4 hands), L.
1890 Ballade for Keyboard
70
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1888 -1889 Ballet, for piano, 4 hands, L. 65/4
sified Title
Berceuse héroïque for piano (or orchestra), L.
1914 Berceuse for Keyboard
132
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1910 -1912 Brouillards, prelude for piano, L. 123/1
Work for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1910 -1912 Bruyères, prelude for piano, L. 123/5
Work for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1910 -1912 Canope, prelude for piano, L. 123/10
Work for Keyboard
La cathédrale engloutie, prelude for piano, L. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1909
117/10 Work for Keyboard
Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest, prelude for piano, L. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1907 -1910
117/7 Work for Keyboard
Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra),
1906 -1908 Suite/Partita for Keyboard
L. 113
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1890 -1905 Clair de lune, for piano, L. 75/3
sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1907 Cloches à travers les feuilles, for piano, L. 111/1
sified Title
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1909 Les collines d'Anacapri, for piano, L. 117/5
Work for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1903 D'un cahier d'esquisses, for piano, L. 99
Work for Keyboard
1880 Danse bohémienne, for piano, L. 9 Individual Dance for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1909 La danse de Puck, prelude for piano, L. 117/11
Work for Keyboard
Danseuses de Delphes, prelude for piano, L. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1909
117/1 Work for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1909 Des pas sur la neige, prelude for piano, L. 117/6
Work for Keyboard
1882 Divertissement for piano, 4 hands, L. 36 Keyboard Music for More Than One Player
Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum, for piano, L.
1906 -1908 Suite/Partita for Keyboard
113/1
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1915 Elégie, for piano, L. 138
Work for Keyboard
 Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1888 -1889 En bateau, for piano, 4 hands, L. 65/1
sified Title
1915 En blanc et noir (3), for 2 pianos, L. 134 Music for Two Keyboards
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1888 -1889 En cortège, for piano, 4 hands, L. 65/2
sified Title
Épigraphes antiques (6), for piano, 2 or 4 hands
1914 Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard
(or orchestra), L. 131
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1903 Estampes, for piano, L. 100
Work for Keyboard
Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fût, for Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1907
piano, L. 111/2 sified Title
Étude retrouvée, for piano Music for Keyboard
1915 Études (12) for piano, Book 1, L. 136/1-6 Etude for Keyboard
1915 Études (12) for piano, Book 2, L. 136/7-12 Etude for Keyboard
Collection of Etudes, Studies, or Exercises
1915 Études (12) for piano, L. 136
for Keyboard
Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses, prelude for
1910 -1912 Prelude for Keyboard
piano, L. 123/4
1910 -1912 Feuilles mortes, prelude for piano, L. 123/2 Prelude for Keyboard
1910 -1912 Feux d'artifices, prelude for piano, L. 123/12 Prelude for Keyboard
La fille aux cheveux de lin, prelude for piano, L.
1910 Prelude for Keyboard
117/8
Général Lavine, eccentric, prelude for piano, L.
1910 -1912 Prelude for Keyboard
123/6
1906 -1908 Golliwogg's Cakewalk, for piano, L. 113/6 Suite/Partita for Keyboard
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1909 Hommage à Joseph Haydn, for piano, L. 115
sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1904 Hommage à Rameau, for piano, L. 110/2
sified Title
Hommage à Samuel Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C.,
1910 -1913 Prelude for Keyboard
prelude for piano, L.123/9
Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc.
1907 Images (3) for piano, Set II, L. 111
Works for Keyb.
Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc.
1905 Images (3), for piano, Set I, L. 110
Works for Keyb.
Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc.
1905 -1907 Images for piano, Sets I & II, L. 110 & L. 111
Works for Keyb.
Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc.
1894 Images inédites (3), for piano, L. 87
Works for Keyb.
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1904 L'isle joyeuse, for piano, L. 106
sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1903 Jardins sous la pluie, for piano L. 100/3
sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1906 -1908 Jimbo's Lullaby, for piano, L. 113/2
sified Title
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1884 Lent, doux et mélancolique, for piano, L. 87
Work for Keyboard
1901 Lindaraja, for 2 pianos, L. 97 Music for Two Keyboards
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1906 -1908 The Little Shepherd, for piano, L. 113/5
sified Title
Marche écossaise, sur un thème populaire, for
1891 Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard
piano, 4 hands (or orchestra), L. 77
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1904 Masques, for piano, L. 105
sified Title
1890 Mazurka, for piano, L. 67 Mazurka for Keyboard
Menuet, for piano, 4 hands ( or orchestra), L.
1888 -1889 Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard
65/3
1890 -1905 Menuet, for piano, L. 75/2 Minuet for Keyboard
1910 Minstrels, prelude for piano, L. 117/12 Prelude for Keyboard
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1905 Mouvement, for piano, L. 110/3
sified Title
1892 Nocturne, for piano, L. 82 Nocturne for Keyboard
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1910 -1913 Ondine, prelude for piano, L. 123/8
sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1903 Pagodes, for piano, L. 100/1
sified Title
1890 -1905 Passepied, for piano, L. 75/4 Passepied for Keyboard
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1909 Le petit nègre, cakewalk for piano, L. 114
sified Title
Petite suite (4), for piano, 4 hands (or
1888 -1889 Suite/Partita for Keyboard
orchestra), L. 65
1904 Pièce pour piano, L. 108 Morceau for Keyboard
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1915 Pièce pour piano, L. 133
sified Title
La plus que lente, waltz for piano (or orchestra),
1910 Waltz for Keyboard
L. 121
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1907 Poissons d'or, for piano, L. 111/3
sified Title
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1914 Pour invoquer Pan, for piano, L. 131/1
Work for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1914 Pour l'égyptienne, for piano, L. 131/5
Work for Keyboard
Pour la danseuse aux crotales, for piano, L. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1914
131/4 Work for Keyboard
1894 -1901 Pour le piano, suite for piano, L. 95 Suite/Partita for Keyboard
1915 Pour les accords, etude for piano, L. 136/12 Etude for Keyboard
1915 Pour les agréments, etude for piano, L. 136/8 Etude for Keyboard
Pour les arpèges composés, etudes for piano,
1915 Etude for Keyboard
L. 136/11
Pour les cinq doigts d'après M. Czerny, etude
1915 Etude for Keyboard
for piano, L. 136/1
Pour les degrés chromatiques, etude for piano,
1915 Etude for Keyboard
L. 136/7
1915 Pour les huit doigts, etude for piano, L. 136/6 Etude for Keyboard
Pour les notes répétées, etude for piano, L.
1915 Etude for Keyboard
136/9
1915 Pour les octaves, etude for piano, L. 136/5 Etude for Keyboard
1915 Pour les quartes, etudes for piano, L. 136/3 Etude for Keyboard
1915 Pour les sixtes, etude for piano, L. 136/4 Etude for Keyboard
Pour les sonorités opposées, etude for piano, L.
1915 Etude for Keyboard
136/10
1915 Pour les tierces, etude for piano, L. 136/2 Etude for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1914 Pour que la nuit soit propice, for piano, L. 131/3
Work for Keyboard
Pour remercier la pluie au matin, for piano, Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1914
L.131/6 Work for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1914 Pour un tombeau sans nom, for piano, L. 131/2
Work for Keyboard
1890 -1905 Prélude, for piano, L. 75/1 Prelude for Keyboard
Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous
1901 Prélude, for piano, L. 95/1
Work for Keyboard
1907 -1910 Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L..117 Collection of Preludes for Keyboard
1910 -1912 Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123 Prelude for Keyboard
1909 -1912 Préludes (24) for piano, Books I & II, L.117, 123 Collection of Preludes for Keyboard
La Puerta del Vino, for piano, prelude for piano,
1910 -1913 Music for Keyboard
L. 123/3
Quelques aspects de "Nous n'irons plus au Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1884
bois," for piano sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1904 Reflets dans l'eau, for piano, L. 110/1
sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1890 Rêverie, for piano, L. 68
sified Title
Sarabande "Souvenir du Louvre," for piano, L. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1894
87 sified Title
1894 Sarabande, for piano, L. 95/2 Sarabande for Keyboard
La sérénade Interrompue, prelude for piano, L.
1907 -1910 Prelude for Keyboard
117/9
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1906 -1908 Serenade for the doll, for piano, L. 113/3
sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1906 -1908 The Snow is Dancing, for piano, L. 113/4
sified Title
Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas-
1903 La soirée dans Grenade, for piano, L. 100/2
sified Title
Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du
1910 Prelude for Keyboard
soir, prelude for piano, L. 117/4
1890 -1905 Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75 Suite/Partita for Keyboard
Tarantelle styrienne, for piano (or orchestra), L.
1890 Individual Dance for Keyboard
69 ("Danse")
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune,
1910 -1912 Prelude for Keyboard
prelude for piano, L. 123/7
Les tierces alternées, prelude for piano, L.
1910 -1912 Prelude for Keyboard
123/11
1901 Toccata, for piano, L. 95/3 Toccata for Keyboard
Le triomphe de Bacchus, suite for piano, 4
1882 Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard
hands (or orchestra), L. 38
1890 Valse romantique, for piano, L. 71 Waltz for Keyboard
Le vent dans la plaine, prelude for for piano, L.
1909 Prelude for Keyboard
117/3
1909 Voiles, prelude for piano, L. 117/2 Prelude for Keyboard
Work(s) for 2 pianos Music for Two Keyboards
Work(s) for piano Music for Keyboard
Work(s) for piano 4-hands Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard

Chamber
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Bilitis, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/5 Keyboard
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Chanson, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/4 Keyboard
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Chant pastoral, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/1 Keyboard
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Les comparaisons, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/2 Keyboard
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Les contes, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/3 Keyboard
 Les courtisanes égyptiennes, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Keyboard
96/8
La danseuse aux crotales, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Keyboard
96/10
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 L'eau pure du bassin, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/9 Keyboard
1882 Intermezzo for cello & orchestra (or piano), L. 27 Cello with Keyboard
Musique de scène pourles Chansons de Bilitis, for 2 flutes, 2 Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Keyboard
harps & celesta, L. 96
1882 Nocturne and Scherzo, for cello & piano, L. 26 Cello with Keyboard
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 La partie d'osselets, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/5 Keyboard
1910 Petite pièce, for clarinet & piano (or orchestra), L. 120 Clarinet Solo/Sonata
Trio for Keyboard and Two String In-
1879 Piano Trio, L. 3 struments
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 La pluie du matin, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/12 Keyboard
1909 -1910 Rhapsodie for clarinet & piano (or orchestra), L. 116 Clarinet Solo/Sonata
1915 Sonata for cello & piano, L. 135 Cello with Keyboard
1916 -1917 Sonata for violin & piano, L. 140 Violin with Keyboard
Trio for Mixed Instruments without
1915 Sonate en trio for flute, viola, & harp, L. 137 Keyboard
Le souvenir de Mnasidica, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Keyboard
96/11
1893 String Quartet, L. 85 (Op. 10) Quartet for Four String Instruments
1913 Syrinx, for solo flute, L. 129 Flute Solo/Sonata
Quintet for Mixed Instruments without
1900 -1901 Le tombeau sans nom, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/7 Keyboard
Work(s) for clarinet & piano Clarinet Solo/Sonata