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Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Claude Debussy, composerDebussy was born in Paris and learned piano initially from his Aunt and later from some of France's finest teachers. He was clearly gifted as a pianist and a composer, won the Prix de Rome for composition and travelled around Europe meeting Liszt and Verdi among others, and also hearing the latest music from the pen of Wagner. Debussy was regarded as somewhat unconventional, always questioning the boundaries of musical traditions. He found a like-minded mentor in Erik Satie and inspired by his musical philosophy and the paintings of his countrymen such as Monet, he developed his own style of music which others labelled "impressionism" in parallel with the artistic movement. Although Debussy disliked the term, it aptly describes the impact on the listener where musical colours and textures assume greater importance as building blocks than the thematic material. Those musical colours involved different scales (such as the pentatonic scale) which Debussy had observed in music from outside the traditional European schools. His usage of the piano in particular was revolutionary, his music seeming to largely avoid the percussive tendencies of the instrument in favour of weaving strands together to create flowing waves or delicate flourishes. His music genuinely painted pictures in a way which had not been done before, though those pictures were not so much rigorously programmatic as evocative allowing the imagination of the listener to fill in the story. Debussy's new impressionist style translated well into his orchestral music where the additional colours available gave more freedom of expression.
-  mfiles        

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Debussy Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Premier trio, G, violin, cello and piano (1880)
Danse bohemienne, piano (1880)
Symphony, b, piano 4-hands (1880-81)
Overture “Diane”, piano 4-hands (1881)
Nocturne et scherzo, cello and piano (1882)
Chansons des brises, female voices (1882)
Le triomphe de Bacchus, orchestra (1882)
Intermezzo, cello and orchestra (1882)
Le printemps (Salut printemps), female chorus and orchestra (1882)
Invocation, male chorus and orchestra (1883)
Premiere Suite, orchestra (1883-84) [Fete; Ballet; Reve; Bacchanale]
Divertissement, piano 4-hands (1884)
L’enfant prodigue, voices and orchestra (1884; rev. 1907-08)
[45 melodies written between 1879-1885]
Printemps, symphonic suite, female chorus and orchestra (1887)
Ariettes oubliees, voice and piano (1885-88; rev. 1903) [6 melodies]
La damoiselle elue, soprano, female chorus and orchestra (1887-88)
Petite Suite, piano 4-hands (1889) [En bateau; Cortege; Menuet, Ballet] [orchestrated by Henri Büsser]
Fantaisie, piano and orchestra (1889-96)
Arabesques (2), piano (1890)
Mazurka, piano (1890)
Ballade, piano (1890)
Reverie, piano (1890)
Suite bergamasque, piano (1890; rev. 1905) [4 pieces]
Danse, piano (1890)
Valse romantique, piano (1890)
5 Poems de Baudelaire, voice and piano (1890)
Marche ecossaise, piano 4-hands (1890; arr. for orch, 1893-96/1908)
Beau soir, voice and piano (1891)
3 Melodies de Verlaine, voice and piano (1891)
Fetes galantes, I, voice and piano (1891) [3 melodies]
Nocturne, piano (1892)
String Quartet, op. 10 (1893)
Images, piano (1894) [3 pieces]
Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune, ballet (1891-94) [orchestra]
Proses lyriques, voice and piano (1895) [4 melodies]
Chansons de Bilitis, voice and piano (1897-98) [3 melodies]
Nuits blaches (Proses lyriques II), voice and piano (1898) [2 melodies]
Nocturnes, orchestra (1897-99)
La saulaie, voice and orchestra (1896-1900)
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music (1900-01)
Pour le piano, piano (1894-1901) [3 pieces]
Lindaraja, 2 pianos (1901)
Pelleas et Melisande, opera (1893-1902)
Estampes, piano (1903) [3 pieces]
D’un cahier d’esquisses, piano (1904)
L’Isle joyeuse, piano (1903-04)
Masques, piano (1903-04)
3 Chansons de France, voice and piano (1904)
Fetes galante II, voice and piano (1904) [3 melodies]
Piece pour piano (1904)
Danses sacree et profane, harp and orchestra (1904)
Images, Book I, piano (1901-05) [3 pieces]
La mer, orchestra (1903-05)
Images, Book II, piano (1907) [3 pieces]
Rapsodie, saxophone and orchestra (1901-08)
Children’s Corner, piano (1906-08) [6 pieces]
3 Chansons de Charles d’Orleans, chorus (1898/1908)
Iberia, orchestra (1908)
Hommage a Haydn, piano (1909)
The Little Nigar, piano (1909)
Le promenoir des deux amants, voice and piano (1904-10) [3 melodies]
Premier rapsodie, clarinet and piano orchestra (1909-10; arr. for orch, 1911)
Petite piece, clarinet and piano (1910)
Preludes (12), Book I, piano (1910)
La plus que lente, piano (1910; arr. for orch, 1912)
Le martyre de St. Sebastien, incidental music (1910-11)
3 Ballades de Francois Villon, voice and piano (1910)
Images, orchestra (1905-12)
Khamma, légende dansée, ballet (1910-12) [intro. orch. by Debussy; rest by Charles Koechlin, under Debussy's supervision]
Preludes (12), Book II, piano (1911-13)
Jeux, ballet (1912-13)
Syrinx, flute solo (1913)
3 Poems de Mallarme, voice and piano (1913)
La boîte à joujoux, ballet, 2 pianos (1913) [orchestrated by André Caplet, under Debussy's supervision]
Berceuse heroique, piano (1914; arr. for orch, 1914)
6 Epigraphes antiques, piano 4-hands (1914) [partly derived from Chansons de Bilitis, 1901]
Noel des enfants qui n’ont plus de maison, children’s chorus and piano (1915)
En blanc et noir, 2 pianos (1915)
Elegie, piano (1915)
Etudes (12), piano (1915)
Page d’album, piano (1915)
Cello Sonata (1915)
Flute, Viola and Harp Sonata (1915)
Violin Sonata (1916-17)
Ode de France, soprano, chorus and orchestra (1916-17)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Debussy Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune, ballet (1891-94)
Pelleas et Melisande, opera (1893-1902)
Khamma, légende dansée, ballet (1910-12) [intro. orch. by Debussy; rest by Charles Koechlin, under Debussy's supervision]
Jeux, ballet (1912-13)
La boîte à joujoux, ballet, 2 pianos (1913) [orchestrated by André Caplet, under Debussy's supervision]

Orchestra
Le triomphe de Bacchus, orchestra (1882)
Premiere Suite, orchestra (1883-84) [Fete; Ballet; Reve; Bacchanale]
Petite Suite, piano 4-hands (1889) [En bateau; Cortege; Menuet, Ballet] [orchestrated by Henri Büsser]
Marche ecossaise, piano 4-hands (1890; arr. for orch, 1893-96/1908)
Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune, ballet (1891-94) [orchestra]
Nocturnes, orchestra (1897-99)
La mer, orchestra (1903-05)
Iberia, orchestra (1908)
La plus que lente, piano (1910; arr. for orch, 1912)
Images, orchestra (1905-12)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Intermezzo, cello and orchestra (1882)
Fantaisie, piano and orchestra (1889-96)
Danses sacree et profane, harp and orchestra (1904)
Rapsodie, saxophone and orchestra (1901-08)
Premier rapsodie, clarinet and piano (1909-10; arr. with orch, 1911)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Le printemps (Salut printemps), female chorus and orchestra (1882)
Invocation, male chorus and orchestra (1883)
Printemps, symphonic suite, female chorus and orchestra (1887)
La damoiselle elue, soprano, female chorus and orchestra (1887-88)
Ode de France, soprano, chorus and orchestra (1916-17)

Choral
Chansons des brises, female voices (1882)
3 Chansons de Charles d’Orleans, chorus (1898/1908)
Noel des enfants qui n’ont plus de maison, children’s chorus and piano (1915)

Chamber
Premier trio, G, violin, cello and piano (1880)
String Quartet, op. 10 (1893)
Flute, Viola and Harp Sonata (1915)

Solo Instrument
Nocturne et scherzo, cello and piano (1882)
Premier rapsodie, clarinet and piano (1909-10; arr. with orch, 1911)
Petite piece, clarinet and piano (1910)
Syrinx, flute solo (1913)
Cello Sonata (1915)
Violin Sonata (1916-17)

Piano
Danse bohemienne, piano (1880)
Symphony, b, piano 4-hands (1880-81)
Overture “Diane”, piano 4-hands (1881)
Divertissement, piano 4-hands (1884)
Petite Suite, piano 4-hands (1889) [En bateau; Cortege; Menuet, Ballet] [orchestrated by Henri Büsser]
Arabesques (2), piano (1890)
Mazurka, piano (1890)
Ballade, piano (1890)
Reverie, piano (1890)
Suite bergamasque, piano (1890; rev. 1905) [4 pieces]
Danse, piano (1890)
Valse romantique, piano (1890)
Marche ecossaise, piano 4-hands (1890; arr. for orch, 1893-96/1908)
Nocturne, piano (1892)
Images, piano (1894) [3 pieces]
Pour le piano, piano (1894-1901) [3 pieces]
Lindaraja, 2 pianos (1901)
Estampes, piano (1903) [3 pieces]
D’un cahier d’esquisses, piano (1904)
L’Isle joyeuse, piano (1903-04)
Masques, piano (1903-04)
Piece pour piano (1904)
Images, Book I, piano (1901-05) [3 pieces]
Images, Book II, piano (1907) [3 pieces]
Children’s Corner, piano (1906-08) [6 pieces]
Hommage a Haydn, piano (1909)
The Little Nigar, piano (1909)
Preludes (12), Book I, piano (1910)
La plus que lente, piano (1910; arr. for orch, 1912)
Preludes (12), Book II, piano (1911-13)
Berceuse heroique, piano (1914; arr. for orch, 1914)
6 Epigraphes antiques, piano 4-hands (1914) [partly derived from Chansons de Bilitis, 1901]
En blanc et noir, 2 pianos (1915)
Elegie, piano (1915)
Etudes (12), piano (1915)
Page d’album, piano (1915)

Vocal
[45 melodies written between 1879-1885]
L’enfant prodigue, voices and orchestra (1884; rev. 1907-08)
Ariettes oubliees, voice and piano (1885-88; rev. 1903) [6 melodies]
5 Poems de Baudelaire, voice and piano (1890)
Beau soir, voice and piano (1891)
3 Melodies de Verlaine, voice and piano (1891)
Fetes galantes, I, voice and piano (1891) [3 melodies]
Proses lyriques, voice and piano (1895) [4 melodies]
Chansons de Bilitis, voice and piano (1897-98) [3 melodies]
Nuits blaches (Proses lyriques II), voice and piano (1898) [2 melodies]
La saulaie, voice and orchestra (1896-1900)
3 Chansons de France, voice and piano (1904)
Fetes galante II, voice and piano (1904) [3 melodies]
Le promenoir des deux amants, voice and piano (1904-10) [3 melodies]
3 Ballades de Francois Villon, voice and piano (1910)
3 Poems de Mallarme, voice and piano (1913)

Incidental/Film
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music (1900-01)
Le martyre de St. Sebastien, incidental music (1910-11)


DEBUSSY  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
Claude Debussy: Life and Works (Tel Asiado, Suite101.com)
Claude Debussy: Obituary; and "The Development of Debussy" (Ernest Newman, The Musical Times)
Claude Debussy's Pianistic Vision
Debussy Preludes, Books 1 & 2 on the Historic 1907 Blüthner Grand (Elaine Greenfield, pianist)
Debussy's Liberation (Jack Logan, Ph. D.)
Impressionistic Influences in the Music of Debussy (by Shengdar Tsai)
A Piano Method by Claude Debussy: Debussy's Ideas on Piano Playing (by Karstein Djupdal)

Books
Debussy in Proportion (Roy Howat, books.google.com)
Debussy and His World (Jane Fulcher, books.google.com)

Claude Debussy - catalogue chronologique

Debussy @ Wikipedia
Debussy @ 8notes.com
Debussy @ 20th Century Arts and Humanities (Dr. Michael Delahoyde, Washington State University)
Debussy @ About.com
Debussy @ Answers.com
Debussy @ Art + Culture
Debussy @ BBC Music
Debussy @ ChoralWiki
Debussy @ Classic Cat
Debussy @ Classical.com
Debussy @ Classical Archives
Debussy @ Classical Composers Database
Debussy @ Classical Music Pages
Debussy @ Classical Net
Debussy @ Classics for Kids
Debussy @ ClassicsToday
Debussy @ composition:today
Debussy @ Debussy.com (Claude Debussy's Pianistic Vision)
Debussy @ Dilettante Music
Debussy @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Debussy @ DSO Kids (Dallas Symphony Orchestra)
Debussy @ Durand Salabert Eschig
Debussy @ Essentials of Music
Debussy @ Everything2.com
Debussy @ Find a Grave
Debussy @ GMN Classical Plus
Debussy @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Debussy @ Internet Public Library
Debussy @ Karadar Classical Music
Debussy @ Kennedy Center    also    here
Debussy @ Kunst der Fuge
Debussy @ Infoplease
Debussy @ Island of Freedom
Debussy @ Los Angeles Philharmonic
Debussy @ Mahalo
Debussy @ McGraw Hill/Kamien
Debussy @ mfiles
Debussy @ Music Academy Online
Debussy @ The Music Chamber
Debussy @ MusicWeb International
Debussy @ NationMaster
Debussy @ Naxos
Debussy @ The New York Times
Debussy @ Newsfinder
Debussy @ NNDB
Debussy @ W.W. Norton
Debussy @ Notable Biographies
Debussy @ NPR's Performance Today
Debussy @ Piano Society
Debussy @ Real.com
Debussy @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Debussy @ Royalty Free Music
Debussy @ The Timid Soul's Guide to Classical Music

Streaming Audio
Debussy @ The Classical MIDI Connection
Debussy @ Classical Masterpieces
Debussy @ Classical Archives
Debussy @ Classical Musical Midi Page
Debussy @ Classics for Kids
Debussy @ GMN Classical Plus
Debussy @ Kunst der Fuge
Debussy @ last.fm
Debussy @ MidiWorld
Debussy @ W.W. Norton
Debussy @ NPRmusic
Debussy @ PRX (Public Radio Exchange)
Debussy @ Rhapsody
Debussy @ Werner Icking Music Archive

Recordings
Debussy @ ArkivMusic
Debussy @ ClassicsOnline

Debussy @  YouTube
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