Debussy

@& Claude Debussy Country Birth Death Period Composition Types

France Aug 22, 1862 in St.-Germain-en-Laye, France Mar 25, 1918 in Paris, France Modern All Works (300) 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. Although he himself disliked the association, his music was, and has remained, strongly associated with the techniques and ideals of impressionist 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 language 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, established 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 remained staples of the performing repertoire since their composition, bring into relief his assimilation 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), parallelism (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 1888

Andante cantabile, for piano duet Arabesque I, for piano, L. 66/1

1891

Arabesque II, for piano, L. 66/2

1888 -1891

Arabesques (2) for piano, L. 66 Ballade (slave), for piano (or piano, 4 hands), L. Ballade for Keyboard 70 Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasBallet, for piano, 4 hands, L. 65/4 sified Title Berceuse héroïque for piano (or orchestra), L. Berceuse for Keyboard 132 Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Brouillards, prelude for piano, L. 123/1 Work for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Bruyères, prelude for piano, L. 123/5 Work for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Canope, prelude for piano, L. 123/10 Work for Keyboard La cathédrale engloutie, prelude for piano, L. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous 117/10 Work for Keyboard Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest, prelude for piano, L. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous 117/7 Work for Keyboard Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), Suite/Partita for Keyboard L. 113 Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasClair de lune, for piano, L. 75/3 sified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasCloches à travers les feuilles, for piano, L. 111/1 sified Title Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Les collines d'Anacapri, for piano, L. 117/5 Work for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous D'un cahier d'esquisses, for piano, L. 99 Work for Keyboard Danse bohémienne, for piano, L. 9 Individual Dance for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous La danse de Puck, prelude for piano, L. 117/11 Work for Keyboard Danseuses de Delphes, prelude for piano, L. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous 117/1 Work for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Des pas sur la neige, prelude for piano, L. 117/6 Work for Keyboard Divertissement for piano, 4 hands, L. 36 Keyboard Music for More Than One Player Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum, for piano, L. Suite/Partita for Keyboard 113/1 Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Elégie, for piano, L. 138 Work for Keyboard

1890 1888 -1889 1914 1910 -1912 1910 -1912 1910 -1912 1909 1907 -1910 1906 -1908 1890 -1905 1907 1909 1903 1880 1909 1909 1909 1882 1906 -1908 1915

Andante for Keyboard Music for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard Music for Keyboard

1888 -1889

En bateau, for piano, 4 hands, L. 65/1

1915

En blanc et noir (3), for 2 pianos, L. 134

1888 -1889

En cortège, for piano, 4 hands, L. 65/2

1914 1903 1907 1915 1915 1915 1910 -1912 1910 -1912 1910 -1912 1910 1910 -1912 1906 -1908 1909 1904 1910 -1913 1907 1905 1905 -1907 1894 1904 1903 1906 -1908 1884 1901 1906 -1908 1891 1904

Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title Music for Two Keyboards Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title

Épigraphes antiques (6), for piano, 2 or 4 hands Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard (or orchestra), L. 131 Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Estampes, for piano, L. 100 Work for Keyboard Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fût, for Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclaspiano, L. 111/2 sified Title Étude retrouvée, for piano Music for Keyboard Études (12) for piano, Book 1, L. 136/1-6 Etude for Keyboard Études (12) for piano, Book 2, L. 136/7-12 Etude for Keyboard Collection of Etudes, Studies, or Exercises Études (12) for piano, L. 136 for Keyboard Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses, prelude for Prelude for Keyboard piano, L. 123/4 Feuilles mortes, prelude for piano, L. 123/2 Prelude for Keyboard Feux d'artifices, prelude for piano, L. 123/12 Prelude for Keyboard La fille aux cheveux de lin, prelude for piano, L. Prelude for Keyboard 117/8 Général Lavine, eccentric, prelude for piano, L. Prelude for Keyboard 123/6 Golliwogg's Cakewalk, for piano, L. 113/6 Suite/Partita for Keyboard Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasHommage à Joseph Haydn, for piano, L. 115 sified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasHommage à Rameau, for piano, L. 110/2 sified Title Hommage à Samuel Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C., Prelude for Keyboard prelude for piano, L.123/9 Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Images (3) for piano, Set II, L. 111 Works for Keyb. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Images (3), for piano, Set I, L. 110 Works for Keyb. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Images for piano, Sets I & II, L. 110 & L. 111 Works for Keyb. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Images inédites (3), for piano, L. 87 Works for Keyb. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasL'isle joyeuse, for piano, L. 106 sified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasJardins sous la pluie, for piano L. 100/3 sified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasJimbo's Lullaby, for piano, L. 113/2 sified Title Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Lent, doux et mélancolique, for piano, L. 87 Work for Keyboard Lindaraja, for 2 pianos, L. 97 Music for Two Keyboards Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasThe Little Shepherd, for piano, L. 113/5 sified Title Marche écossaise, sur un thème populaire, for Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard piano, 4 hands (or orchestra), L. 77 Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasMasques, for piano, L. 105 sified Title

1890

1890 -1905 1910

Mazurka, for piano, L. 67 Menuet, for piano, 4 hands ( or orchestra), L. 65/3 Menuet, for piano, L. 75/2 Minstrels, prelude for piano, L. 117/12

1905

Mouvement, for piano, L. 110/3

1892

Nocturne, for piano, L. 82

1910 -1913

Ondine, prelude for piano, L. 123/8

1903

Pagodes, for piano, L. 100/1

1890 -1905

Passepied, for piano, L. 75/4

1909

Le petit nègre, cakewalk for piano, L. 114

1888 -1889

1904

Petite suite (4), for piano, 4 hands (or orchestra), L. 65 Pièce pour piano, L. 108

1915

Pièce pour piano, L. 133

1888 -1889

1910 1907 1914 1914 1914 1894 -1901 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1915 1914 1914 1914

Mazurka for Keyboard Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard Minuet for Keyboard Prelude for Keyboard Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title Nocturne for Keyboard Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title Passepied for Keyboard Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title Suite/Partita for Keyboard Morceau for Keyboard Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title

La plus que lente, waltz for piano (or orchestra), Waltz for Keyboard L. 121 Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasPoissons d'or, for piano, L. 111/3 sified Title Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Pour invoquer Pan, for piano, L. 131/1 Work for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Pour l'égyptienne, for piano, L. 131/5 Work for Keyboard Pour la danseuse aux crotales, for piano, L. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous 131/4 Work for Keyboard Pour le piano, suite for piano, L. 95 Suite/Partita for Keyboard Pour les accords, etude for piano, L. 136/12 Etude for Keyboard Pour les agréments, etude for piano, L. 136/8 Etude for Keyboard Pour les arpèges composés, etudes for piano, Etude for Keyboard L. 136/11 Pour les cinq doigts d'après M. Czerny, etude Etude for Keyboard for piano, L. 136/1 Pour les degrés chromatiques, etude for piano, Etude for Keyboard L. 136/7 Pour les huit doigts, etude for piano, L. 136/6 Etude for Keyboard Pour les notes répétées, etude for piano, L. Etude for Keyboard 136/9 Pour les octaves, etude for piano, L. 136/5 Etude for Keyboard Pour les quartes, etudes for piano, L. 136/3 Etude for Keyboard Pour les sixtes, etude for piano, L. 136/4 Etude for Keyboard Pour les sonorités opposées, etude for piano, L. Etude for Keyboard 136/10 Pour les tierces, etude for piano, L. 136/2 Etude for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous 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 L.131/6 Work for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Pour un tombeau sans nom, for piano, L. 131/2 Work for Keyboard

1890 -1905

Prélude, for piano, L. 75/1

1901

Prélude, for piano, L. 95/1

1907 -1910 1910 -1912 1909 -1912

Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L..117 Préludes (12) for piano, Book II, L. 123 Préludes (24) for piano, Books I & II, L.117, 123 La Puerta del Vino, for piano, prelude for piano, Music for Keyboard L. 123/3 Quelques aspects de "Nous n'irons plus au Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclasbois," for piano sified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasReflets dans l'eau, for piano, L. 110/1 sified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasRêverie, for piano, L. 68 sified Title Sarabande "Souvenir du Louvre," for piano, L. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclas87 sified Title Sarabande, for piano, L. 95/2 Sarabande for Keyboard La sérénade Interrompue, prelude for piano, L. Prelude for Keyboard 117/9 Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasSerenade for the doll, for piano, L. 113/3 sified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasThe Snow is Dancing, for piano, L. 113/4 sified Title Keyboard Work with Descriptive or UnclasLa soirée dans Grenade, for piano, L. 100/2 sified Title Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du Prelude for Keyboard soir, prelude for piano, L. 117/4 Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75 Suite/Partita for Keyboard Tarantelle styrienne, for piano (or orchestra), L. Individual Dance for Keyboard 69 ("Danse") La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune, Prelude for Keyboard prelude for piano, L. 123/7 Les tierces alternées, prelude for piano, L. Prelude for Keyboard 123/11 Toccata, for piano, L. 95/3 Toccata for Keyboard Le triomphe de Bacchus, suite for piano, 4 Music for Four Hands at One Keyboard hands (or orchestra), L. 38 Valse romantique, for piano, L. 71 Waltz for Keyboard Le vent dans la plaine, prelude for for piano, L. Prelude for Keyboard 117/3 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

1910 -1913 1884 1904 1890 1894 1894 1907 -1910 1906 -1908 1906 -1908 1903 1910 1890 -1905 1890 1910 -1912 1910 -1912 1901 1882 1890 1909 1909

Prelude for Keyboard Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard Collection of Preludes for Keyboard Prelude for Keyboard Collection of Preludes for Keyboard

Chamber 1900 -1901

Bilitis, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/5

1900 -1901 Chanson, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/4 1900 -1901 Chant pastoral, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/1 1900 -1901 Les comparaisons, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/2 1900 -1901 Les contes, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/3

Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard

Les courtisanes égyptiennes, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/8 La danseuse aux crotales, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 1900 -1901 96/10

Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard

1900 -1901 L'eau pure du bassin, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/9

Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard

1882

Intermezzo for cello & orchestra (or piano), L. 27 Musique de scène pourles Chansons de Bilitis, for 2 flutes, 2 1900 -1901 harps & celesta, L. 96 1882 Nocturne and Scherzo, for cello & piano, L. 26

Cello with Keyboard

1900 -1901 La partie d'osselets, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/5

Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard

1910

Petite pièce, for clarinet & piano (or orchestra), L. 120

Clarinet Solo/Sonata

1879

Piano Trio, L. 3

Trio for Keyboard and Two String Instruments Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard

1900 -1901

1900 -1901 La pluie du matin, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/12

Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard

Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard Cello with Keyboard

1909 -1910 Rhapsodie for clarinet & piano (or orchestra), L. 116 1915 Sonata for cello & piano, L. 135 1916 -1917 Sonata for violin & piano, L. 140

Clarinet Solo/Sonata

1915

Sonate en trio for flute, viola, & harp, L. 137

Trio for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard

Le souvenir de Mnasidica, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/11 String Quartet, L. 85 (Op. 10) Syrinx, for solo flute, L. 129

Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard

1900 -1901 1893 1913

1900 -1901 Le tombeau sans nom, for 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96/7 Work(s) for clarinet & piano

Cello with Keyboard Violin with Keyboard

Quartet for Four String Instruments Flute Solo/Sonata Quintet for Mixed Instruments without Keyboard Clarinet Solo/Sonata