Composers › Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
1862–1918 · French
French composer whose richly coloured, evocative music broke with traditional harmony and is often described as Impressionist. A central figure in the transition to modern music.
112 worksModern
Works
- 12 Preludes2 versions
- 3 Mélodies
- 3 Preludes (1907-1912)
- 3 Preludes from Book I (1907-1910)
- 4 mélodies
- 4 Preludes3 versions
- 5 Poèmes de Baudelaire (1889)2 versions
- 5 Preludes for piano
- 5 Preludes from Book I
- Ariettes oubliées
- Beau soir (c1893)
- Bilitis2 versions
- Cello Sonata (1915)2 versions
- Chansons de Bilitis (1897)2 versions
- Children’s Corner (1906-1908)2 versions
- Clair de Lune2 versions
- Danse sacrée et danse profane
- De fleurs
- Deux Arabesques (1888-1890)
- En blanc et noir (1915)
- Estampes [1903]3 versions
- Fantaisie
- First Rhapsody2 versions
- Five Preludes
- for two pianos
- Four Preludes2 versions
- from 5 Poèmes de Baudelaire (1887–89)
- Fêtes (from Nocturnes)2 versions
- Fêtes galantes - 2nd series (1904)
- Fêtes galantes 1 (1891)6 versions
- Fêtes galantes 2
- Hommage à Haydn (1909)
- How characteristic are these early songs of the mature Debussy?
- Ibéria
- Images - Book 1 (1905)2 versions
- Images - Série 2 (1907)
- Images for orchestra
- Images for piano
- Images oubliées
- Images: Book 2 (1907)2 versions
- Jardins sous la pluie - from Estampes (1903)
- Jeux2 versions
- Jeux: poème dansé
- La Boîte à joujoux (The Toy-box)
- La cathédrale engloutie
- La Mer2 versions
- La Mer: trois esquisses symphoniques2 versions
- La plus que lente2 versions
- Le Balcon [1888]2 versions
- Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien: fragments symphoniques
- L’Isle joyeuse3 versions
- Marche écossaise
- Marche écossaise sur un thème populaire
- Masques (1904)
- Nocturne in D flat major (c 1890)
- Nocturnes
- Nocturnes arranged for two pianos by Maurice Ravel
- Nuit d’étoiles (1880)3 versions
- Pelléas et Mélisande
- Pelléas et Mélisande Suite
- Petite Suite (1889)
- Piano Trio in G major (1880)
- Pour le piano2 versions
- Pour les arpèges composés (from Etudes, Book II)
- Pour les degrés chromatiques (from Etudes, Book II)
- Pour les octaves (from Etudes, Book I)
- Preludes - Book I (1907-1910)2 versions
- Première Rhapsodie3 versions
- Promenoir des deux amants
- Proses lyriques (1892-3)
- Prélude à “L’après-midi d’un faune”9 versions
- Préludes - deuxième cahier3 versions
- Préludes - premier cahier
- Préludes, orchestrated by Colin Matthews (a selection)
- Reflets dans l’eau (from Images, Book I)
- Rhapsody for alto saxophone and orchestra
- Rondes de printemps from Images
- Rêverie
- Sarabande
- Seven Preludes
- Six Épigraphes antiques
- Sonata in F major3 versions
- String Quartet in G minor (1893)8 versions
- Suite bergamasque [1890]
- Syrinx for solo flute3 versions
- Three Preludes2 versions
- Three Preludes from Book II (1910-13)
- Trois ballades de François Villon (1910)
- Trois mélodies (1891)
- Two Images for orchestra
- Two Preludes for piano
- Two Études from Book II (1915)
- Violin Sonata3 versions
Essays & context
Longer pieces about the composer — their life, circle, and the people, places and events behind the music.
Source material
Gerald Larner’s working research files — passages he gathered while preparing his notes, kept here as source material.
- Children’s Corner — from Debussy’s letters
- Images (orchestral) — from Debussy’s letters
- Images, Book 1 — from Debussy’s letters
- Images, Book 2 — from Debussy’s letters
- Jeux — from Debussy’s letters
- La Boîte à joujoux — from Debussy’s letters
- La Mer — from Debussy’s letters
- Première rapsodie — from Debussy’s letters
- Préludes, Book 1 — from Debussy’s letters
- Six épigraphes antiques — from Debussy’s letters
- Sonata for flute, viola and harp — from Debussy’s letters
- The late Sonatas — from Debussy’s letters
- Violin Sonata — from Debussy’s letters
Also in concert programmes
Concert and recital programmes by Gerald Larner that feature this composer.
- Concert programme — Debussy, Britten, Webern & Grieg
- Concert programme — Bax, Telemann & Debussy
- Concert programme — Bax, Telemann & Debussy
- French concert programme — Fauré, Debussy & Gounod
- French concert programme — Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Françaix & others
- French concert programme — Ravel, Caplet, Roussel & others
- French concert programme — Ravel, Caplet, Roussel & others
- French concert programme — Chabrier, Paladilhe, Debussy & others