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Claude Debussy: The 100 most inspiring musicians of all time
The works of French composer Claude Debussy (Achilles-Claude Debussy) (b. Aug. 22, 1862, Saint-German-en-Laye, France —d. March 25, 1918, Paris) have been a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. Debussy developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist and symbolism painters and writers of his time aspired.
Early Period
Debussy showed a gift as a pianist by the age of nine. He was encouraged by Madame Mauté de Fleurville, who was associated with the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, and in 1873 he entered the Paris Conservatory, where he studied the piano and composition, eventually winning in 1884 the Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata L’Enfant prodigue (The Prodigal Child ).
While living with his parents in a poverty-stricken suburb of Paris, he unexpectedly came under the patronage of a Russian millionairess, Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck, who engaged him to play duets with her and her children. He traveled with her to her palatial residences throughout Europe during the long summer vacations at the Conservatory. In Paris during this time he fell in love with a singer, Blanche Vasnier, the beautiful young wife of an architect; she inspired many of his early works.
This early style is well illustrated in one of Debussy’s best-known compositions, Clair de Lune. The title refers to a folk song that was the conventional accompaniment of scenes of the love-sick Pierrot in the French pantomime; and indeed the many Pierrot-like associations in Debussy’s later music, notably in the orchestral work Images (1912) and the Sonata for Cello and Piano (1915; originally titled Pierrot fâché avec la lune [“Pierrot Vexed by the Moon”]), show his connections with the circus spirit that also appeared in works by other composers.
Claude Debussy’s Sheet Music download.
Middle Period
As a holder of the Grand Prix de Rome, Debussy was given a three-year stay at the Villa Medici, in Rome, where, under what were supposed to be ideal conditions, he was to pursue his creative work. Debussy eventually fled from the Villa Medici after two years and returned to Blanche Vasnier in Paris. At this time Debussy lived a life of extreme indulgence. Once one of his mistresses, Gabrielle (“Gaby”) Dupont, threatened suicide. His first wife, Rosalie (“Lily”) Texier, a dressmaker, whom he married in 1899, did in fact shoot herself, though not fatally, and, Debussy himself was haunted by thoughts of suicide.
The main musical influences on Debussy were the works of Richard Wagner and the Russian composers Aleksandr Borodin and Modest Mussorgsky. Wagner fulfi lled the sensuous ambitions not only of composers but also of the symbolist poets and the impressionist painters.
Wagner’s conception of Gesamtkunstwerk (“total art work”) encouraged artists to refi ne upon their emotional responses and to exteriorize their hidden dream states, often in a shadowy, incomplete form; hence the more tenuous nature of the work of Wagner’s French disciples.
It was in this spirit that Debussy wrote the symphonic poem Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (1894). Other early works by Debussy show his affinity with the English Pre-Raphaelite painters; the most notable of these works is La Damoiselle élue (1888), based on The Blessed Damozel (1850), a poem by the English poet and painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
In the course of his career, however, which covered only 25 years, Debussy was constantly breaking new ground. His single completed opera Pelléas et Mélisande (first performed in 1902) demonstrates how the Wagnerian technique could be adapted to portray subjects like the dreamy nightmarish figures of this opera who were doomed to self-destruction.
Debussy and his librettist, Maurice Maeterlinck, declared that they were haunted in this work by the terrifying nightmare tale of Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher. The style of Pelléas was to be replaced by a bolder, more highly coloured manner. In his seascape La Mer (1905) he was inspired by the ideas of the English painter J. M.W. Turner and the French painter Claude Monet. In his work, as in his personal life, he was eager to gather experience from every region that the imaginative mind could explore.
Late Period
In 1905 Debussy’s illegitimate daughter, Claude-Emma, was born. He had divorced Lily Texier in 1904 and subsequently married his daughter’s mother, Emma Bardac. For his daughter he wrote the piano suite Children’s Corner (1908).
Debussy’s spontaneity and the sensitive nature of his perception facilitated his acute insight into the child mind, an insight noticeable particularly in Children’s Corner; in the Douze Préludes, two books (1910, 1913; “Twelve Preludes”), for piano; and in the ballet La Boîte à joujoux (1st perf. 1919;
The Box of Toys). In his later years, it is the pursuit of illusion that marks Debussy’s instrumental writing, especially the strange, otherworldly Cello Sonata. This noble bass instrument takes on, in chameleon fashion, the character of a violin, a flute, and even a mandolin.
Evolution of His Work
Debussy’s music marks the first of a series of attacks on the traditional language of the 19th century. He did not believe in the stereotyped harmonic procedures of the 19th century, and indeed it becomes clear from a study of mid-20th-century music that the earlier harmonic methods were being followed in an arbitrary, academic manner.
Debussy’s inquiring mind similarly challenged the traditional orchestral usage of instruments. He rejected the traditional dictum that string instruments should be predominantly lyrical. The pizzicato scherzo from his String Quartet (1893) and the symbolic writing for the violins in La Mer, conveying the rising storm waves, show a new conception of string colour. Similarly, he saw that woodwinds need not be employed for fireworks displays; they provide, like the human voice, wide varieties of colour.
Debussy also used the brass in original colour transformations. In fact, in his music, the conventional orchestral construction, with its rigid woodwind, brass, and string departments, finds itself undermined or split up in the manner of the Impressionist painters. Ultimately, each instrument
becomes almost a soloist, as in a vast chamber-music ensemble. Finally, Debussy applied an exploratory approach to the piano, the evocative instrument par excellence.
In his last works, the piano pieces En blanc et noir (1915; In Black and White) and in the Douze Études (1915; “Twelve Études”), Debussy had branched out into modes of composition later to be developed in the styles of Stravinsky and the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. It is certain that he would have taken part in the leading movements in composition of the years following World War I. His life, however, was tragically cut short by cancer.
The Best of Debussy
Pianist: Pascal Rogé
Track List:
Arabesque Nº1 4:21 Arabesque Nº2 7:49 Clair De Lune 13:29 Passepied 16:46 Rêverie 21:40 Hommage A Rameau 29:22 Voiles 33:41 Les Sons Et Les Parfums Tournent Dans L’air Du Soir 37:58 La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin 41:02 La Cathédral Engloutie 48:10 Musiciens 50:35 Le Petit Berger 54:05 Golliwogg’s Cakewalk 57:13 L’isle Joyeuse 1:03:35 Prelúdio para a tarde de um fauno
Browse in the Library:
Artist or Composer / Score name | Cover | List of Contents |
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Stranger Things Main Theme Piano solo arr. (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Strauss Johann – The Blue Danube Piano solo | ||
Strauss Richard – Also Sprach Zarathustra (Trans. R. Schmalz for Piano solo) | ||
Strauss – An Der Schönen Blauen Donau (Advanced Ver.) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Strauss – An Der Schönen Blauen Donau The Blue Danube (Easy Piano Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Strauss – An Der Schönen Blauen Donau The Blue Danube (Intermediate Piano Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra op. 30 (arr. for 2 pianos) | ||
Strauss Richard 4 Lieder Op. 27 No. 4 Morgen Musescore File.mscz | ||
Strauss, Johann Ii An Der Schönen Blauen Donau, Op.314 Jrummel Easy Piano Solo | ||
Strauss, Johann Ii Waatzes For Piano Op. 314 (Complete) | ||
Strauss, Johann II Die Fledermaus Suite for piano solo arr. | ||
Strauss, Johann Ii Die Fledermaus Suite For Piano Solo Arr. Musescore File.mscx | ||
Strauss, Johann Jr. – The Blue Danube Waltz (Easy Piano Solo) | ||
Strauss, Richard Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op 30 Einleitung, Oder Sonnenaufgang (Solo Piano Arr) | ||
Stravinski, Igor – Poetica Musical Book (Español – Spanish) | ||
Stravinsky Ragtime (Piano Solo, Transcribed By The Composer) | ||
Stravinsky The Firebird Suite Piano Transcription | ||
Stravinsky Three Movements From Petrushka (piano solo arr.) | ||
Stravinsky – Octet for Wind Instruments | ||
Stravinsky – Ragtime (Piano Solo) | ||
Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring Le Sacre du printemps (4 hands, piano à 4 mains) | Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring Le Sacre du printemps (4 hands, piano à 4 mains) | |
Stravinsky – The Rite Of Spring – piano 2 hands – arr. by Raphling | ||
Stravinsky 3 Easy pieces for piano 4 hands | ||
Stravinsky 4 Etudes Op.7 | ||
Stravinsky And His World by Tamara Levitz (Book) | ||
Stravinsky Sonata F Sharp Minor | ||
Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms (arr. piano solo) | ||
Stravinsky Tango | ||
Stravinsky The Firebird Piano Transcription | Stravinsky: The Firebird | |
Stravinsky, Igor 5 Easy Pieces [Piano 4 Hands] | ||
Stravinsky, Igor – The Rite of Spring Le Sacre du Printemps (piano solo) | ||
Straylight Run – Existentialism On Prom Night | ||
Streabbog (Jean Louis Gobbaerts) – 12 Easy and Melodious Studies, Op 64 | ||
Streabbog (Jean Louis Gobbaerts) – 12 Very Easy and Melodious Studies, op 63 | ||
Streabbog Book 1 Opus 63 Twelve Very Easy And Melodious Studies | ||
Streabbog Book 2 Opus 64 12 Melodious Pieces For Piano | ||
Stride & Swing Piano The Complete Guide by John Valerio | Stride & Swing Piano Stride & Swing Piano – The Complete Guide | |
Stuart K. Hine How Great Thou Art Arr Joel Raney 6 Concert Hymns Expressions For Solo Piano | ||
Studio Ghibli Guitar Arrangements Best Album (Joe Hisaishi & Hayao Miyazaki) with Tablature | ||
Studio Ghibli Piano Suite | ||
Styx – Babe | ||
Styx – Come Sail Away | ||
Succar Ya Banat (Caramel OST) Rasha Rizk | ||
Suis-moi – Le Petit Prince OST (Hans Zimmer – Camille) | ||
Sum 41 – Pieces | ||
Summer of ’42 (Michel Legrand) | ||
Summer of ’42 The Summer Knows Michel Legrand Piano & Voice | Summer of ’42 The Summer Knows Michel Legrand Piano & Voice | |
SUMMER OF’42 THE SUMMER KNOWS Piano (another version) | THE SUMMER KNOWS -SUMMER OF’42 | |
Summertime – Piano arrangement Pianos Of Cha’n | ||
Summertime G. Gershwin | ||
Sun Ra sheet music Collection | 1 Sun Ra index sheet music | |
Sunday Music (100 Arrangements For Piano Solo) E. Pauer | Sunday Music (100 Arrangements For Piano Solo) E. Pauer | |
Sunrise on Pontchartrain (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button OST) Alexandre Desplat | Sunrise on Pontchartrain | |
Super Junior Pajama Party | ||
Super Mario 64 – dire,dire docks | ||
Super Mario 64 by Koji Kondo – Piano | ||
Super Mario Bros – Main Theme | Super-Mario-Bros-Main-Theme | |
Super Mario Bros – Main Theme Overworld | ||
Super Mario Bros – Main Theme Overworld (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Super Mario Bros – Mario Main Theme – Koji Kondo | ||
Super Mario Bros 2 Overworld Theme by Koji Kondo Piano Solo | ||
Super Mario Bros 2 Complete Piano Arrangement | ||
Super Mario Bros Overworld Main Theme sheet music | ||
Super Mario Bros Songbook | ||
Super Mario Bros. 3 Don’t stand on the Donuts – Piano Sheet Music | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Aquatic Race | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Attack! Koopas Fleet | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Catastrophe | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – File Select | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – King Koopa’s Entrance | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Kinopio’s Expedition | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Overture | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Peachs Castle is Stolen | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Rosetta’s Comet Observatory I | ||
Super Mario Galaxy – Starbit Festival | ||
Super Mario Galaxy Complete Sheet Music | ||
Super Mario Galaxy Sheet Music (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Super Mario Land – Birabuto Kingdom by Hirokazu Tamaka | ||
Super Mario World 2 Yoshis Island – Athletic | ||
Super Sight Reading Secrets by Howard Richman (Book) for keyboard players | ||
Super Solos for Acoustic Guitar Solos (by Johnny Norris) Fingerpicking with Tablature | Super Solos for Acoustic Guitar Solos (by Johnny Norris) Fingerpicking with Tablature | |
Super Top Ten Volume (Guitar) | Super Top Ten Volume (Guitar) | |
Supercell – Sayonara Memories | ||
Superhero Themes 14 of Your Favorite Heroes and She-Roes | Superhero Themes 14 of Your Favorite Heroes and She-Roes | |
Superman Theme For Piano | ||
Supertramp – Breakfast In America | Supertramp Breakfast In America Book | |
Supertramp – Logical Song | ||
Supertramp Anthology Songbook | Supertramp Anthology Songbook | |
Supertramp Breakfast In America SongBook | Supertramp Breakfast In America Book | |
Supertramp Crisis What Crisis SongBook | ||
Supertramp Even In The Quietest Moments Songbook | Supertramp Even In The Quietest Moments | |
Supertramp Famous Last Words SongBook | Supertramp Famous Last Words Book | |
Supertramp Paris SongBook | Supertramp Paris Book | |
Surface Pressure – Encanto (sheet music).mscz | ||
Suzanne Ciani Adagio from the album Pianissimo | Suzanne-Ciani-Adagio 1st page | |
Suzanne Ciani Dream Songs for piano | Suzanne Ciani Dream Songs piano | |
Suzanne Ciani New Age Piano | Suzanne Ciani New Age Piano | |
Suzanne Vega Songbook | Suzanne Vega Songbook | |
SUZUKI – Guitar School Revised Edition (Vol 1) | SUZUKI – Guitar School Revised Edition (Vol 1) | |
Suzuki Guitar (Complete Vol. 1 To 9) | SUZUKI GUITAR Vol 1-9 | |
Suzuki Piano School – Vol 07 – Mozart Handel and Paderevski | ||
Suzuki Piano School Volumes 1 to 7 (240 p.) | Suzuki 1-7 – Piano School (7 books) | |
Suzuki Tsunekichi – Omohi De – Irish Folk Song Opening Theme To The Netflix Series Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Suzuki Tsunekichi – Omohi de – Irish Folk Song Opening theme to the Netflix series Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories) Guitar | Suzuki Tsunekichi – Omohi de – Irish Folk Song Opening theme to the Netflix series Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories) Guitar | |
Sveinn Eythorsson – Easy Guitar Songs | ||
Swan Lake Theme – Tchaikovsky (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Swanee River Boogie Woogie – Albert Ammons (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Sweet Hour Of Prayer – Piano Solo arr. of 13 Sacred Songs by Marvin Goldstein | ||
Swing And Early Progressive Piano Styles Jazz Improvisation 3 by John Mehegam | Swing And Early Progressive Piano Styles Jazz Improvisation 3 by John Mehegam | |
Swing Low Sweet Charriot (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Sydney Bechet Si Tu Vois Ma Mere Lead sheet music GUITAR CHORDS | ||
Symphony No 40 In Gm K550 (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No 9 In E Minor (From The New World) For Piano – 1st Movement (Adagio – Allegro Molto) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No 9 In E Minor (From The New World) For Piano – 2nd Movement (Largo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No 9 In E Minor 4th Mov. (From The New World) A. Dvorak (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No. 2 Third Mov. Advanced Piano Arr. (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Symphony No. 5 – Adagietto Gustav Mahler (Musescore File).mscz | ||
System Of A Down – Lonely Day | ||
T – Pain – Buy You A Drink | ||
Table for Two – Nocturnal Animals OST (Abel Korzeniowski) |