Debussy’s masterpiece. Popular classical music.
We introduce the works of Claude Debussy, a composer who represents France.
You can immerse yourself in the world of Impressionist music, which evokes abstract images of landscapes and people, through pieces such as Clair de Lune, Rêverie, and The Girl with the Flaxen Hair.
While he is often associated with piano and orchestral compositions, there are also many vocal works in which Debussy’s youthful talent shines—such as Nuit d’étoiles—composed when he was just 18.
Let yourself be captivated for a while by the beautiful melodies crafted by this great master of modern French music.
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Debussy’s masterpieces. Popular classical music (61–70)
Bergamasque Suite “Prélude”Claude Debussy
It is the first piece of the Suite bergamasque, which also includes the famous Clair de Lune.
With its deep, rich sonorities at the opening, it instantly draws the audience into Debussy’s painterly world.
The piece is interwoven with his characteristic techniques throughout, making it one that never grows tiresome.
Bergamasque Suite No. 1: PreludeClaude Debussy
Suite bergamasque, by the French Impressionist master Claude Debussy, is known for its approachable character among his works.
Its first movement begins with a bright, sunlit melody, passes through a mysterious middle section that employs church modes, and then returns to the opening theme.
While some of Debussy’s piano pieces resist conventional tonality and can be difficult to grasp, this work retains a sense of key and invites vivid imagery, making it relatively accessible to tackle.
Conceived in 1890 and revised in 1905, it captures a moment when Debussy’s early genius was coming into full bloom.
Song of Pelléas (from the opera Pelléas et Mélisande)Claude Debussy
The only completed opera Debussy left is Pelléas et Mélisande.
While many operas run as long as four hours, this major work is a fairly compact piece of under two hours.
In this aria of Pelléas, the graceful, supple soprano melody is particularly striking.
ElegyClaude Debussy
A gem of a miniature from the final years of Claude Debussy.
Composed in 1915, this work spans just 21 measures yet brims with expressive depth.
Written under the shadow of World War I, this song of sorrow holds profound emotion within its quietude.
Its unhurried tempo and delicate harmonic shifts leave a gentle afterglow in the listener’s heart.
The piano’s timbres weave a dreamlike world that is quintessentially Debussy.
A perfect piece for those who wish to step away from the everyday and immerse themselves in music.
Lullaby of a HeroClaude Debussy
Composed in 1914 by Claude Debussy, a leading figure of French modern music, this work pays tribute to Belgian heroes during World War I.
Its solemn, weighty, and tragic melody is striking.
Available in both piano and orchestral versions, it evokes profound emotion in either form.
Incorporating a passage from the Belgian national anthem, the piece conveys the horrors of war and a prayer for peace.
If you surrender yourself to its quietly yet powerfully resonant sound world, it will surely move your heart.
A highly recommended piece for those who wish to engage with history through music.
Arabesque No. 1Claude Debussy
A piece by Claude Debussy, the French Impressionist composer renowned for his pleasantly light and beautiful melodies.
It consists of two pieces: No.
1 in E major and No.
2 in G major.
Clair de Lune, familiar from commercials and more, is also famous, but some may find the Arabesques easier to play from a technical standpoint.
As you play, cherish the flow of the sound and apply plenty of dynamic contrast.
If you find the sections with differing rhythms in the left and right hands challenging, practicing in the air on a desk is also recommended!
Bergamasque Suite: No. 1, PreludeClaude Debussy
The first piece, “Prélude,” from Claude Debussy’s Suite bergamasque, composed by the French composer renowned for Impressionist music.
True to Debussy—sometimes called the “painter of the piano”—this work features richly colored, pictorial melodies of great beauty.
Its emotionally charged development, suggesting the beginning of something, draws listeners into the world of Impressionist music.
Because the piece is marked to be played with a free tempo, its atmosphere changes with each performer’s sensibility—one of the work’s most intriguing aspects.
It’s ideal to perform while being mindful of the form and harmony, yet without being bound by them, adding your own interpretation to the expression.
