Debussy’s masterpiece. Popular classical music.

From a woodblock print: Rainy GardenClaude Debussy

From Debussy's Estampes: Jardins sous la pluie (Rain in the Garden) / Debussy Jardins sous la Pluie (Estampes)

This piece vividly conveys the sense of relentless rainfall.

It starts with light patterings—pitter-patter, plip-plop—and builds into quite a downpour.

Because it requires articulating the character of the raindrops with crisp, rolling sounds, it demands a very high level of performance; despite being a short piece, it’s deceptively difficult.

It is the final piece in the piano work “Prints” and quotes two French nursery songs: “Dodo, l’enfant do” and “Nous n’irons plus au bois.”

The Maiden with Flaxen HairClaude Debussy

The Maiden with Flaxen Hair — Debussy

This is the eighth piece from Claude Debussy’s Préludes for piano.

It is a very short work—just a single two-page spread—but its beauty is well known, and it is often used in television commercials.

Written in G-flat major with six flats, it can be quite challenging to read at first; however, once memorized, its relaxed character makes it easy to play, which is why many pianists love to perform it.

The title “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair” is taken from “La fille aux cheveux de lin,” a poem by the Parnassian French poet Leconte de Lisle.

Bergamasque Suite “Passepied”Claude Debussy

Debussy: Suite bergamasque, No. 4 “Passepied”

This is an early Debussy piano solo piece composed around 1900.

It is the fourth movement of a suite consisting of four pieces.

The title “Passepied” refers to a type of dance characterized by light, nimble steps.

The lively character in the left hand embodies the very essence of a passepied, while the right hand’s melody carries a somewhat wistful, poignant quality.

It’s a mysterious and fantastical finale.

The piece has also drawn attention from fans of Dragon Quest music, as its motif is strikingly similar to the field BGM “Into the Vast World” from the first installment of the hugely popular game series.

Although I wrote “around 1900” at the outset, the piece was actually composed in 1890 and a revised version was published in 1905.

If you have access to recordings, why not enjoy comparing the differences between the original version and the revision?

Golden fishClaude Debussy

Debussy / Images, Book II: 3. Poissons d’or / Performed by Yuno Kano

This is a work included in French composer Claude Debussy’s piano collection Images, Book II.

Composed in 1907, it was inspired by the koi carp depicted on a Japanese lacquer tray that Debussy had displayed in his study.

The piece uses the piano’s timbres to evoke the movement and shimmer of water and fish, featuring a fresh musical expression that goes beyond traditional harmony and rhythm.

Although it is sometimes labeled Impressionist music, Debussy himself did not favor this classification.

The work succeeds in stimulating the listener’s imagination, painting a beautiful scene of goldfish gliding across the water’s surface.

It is recommended for those with a delicate sensibility and for anyone who wishes to expand rich imagery through music.

Evening in GranadaClaude Debussy

Debussy / Estampes: 2. Evening in Granada / Performed by Mariko Kaneda

This piece is included in the collection Prints, completed in 1903, and is music inspired by Granada, Spain.

With sounds that imitate strummed guitar and the incorporation of the habanera rhythm, it evokes the feeling of strolling through the streets of Granada.

Although Debussy reportedly had little firsthand experience visiting Spain, his richly imaginative music brilliantly conveys a world overflowing with exotic color.

It’s a recommended piece not only for lovers of classical music but also for anyone interested in Spanish culture.

Children’s Corner No. 6: “Golliwogg’s Cakewalk”Claude Debussy

Golliwogg’s Cakewalk – Children’s Corner (Debussy) Debussy – Golliwogg’s Cakewalk – Children’s Corner – pianomaedaful

The piano suite Children’s Corner, completed in 1908, was composed by Claude Debussy for his three-year-old daughter and is intended to let adults indulge in a childlike mood.

The sixth piece is a lively number modeled on the African American dance, the cakewalk.

It is said to depict the cheerful dancing of the then-popular doll, Golliwogg.

Its bouncy rhythms and refined harmonies are distinctive, stimulating the listener’s senses.

If you pay close attention to the notated instructions and emphasize dynamic contrasts and accents in performance, the piece’s charm will shine even more.

Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy

High-Quality Audio [Clair de lune — Debussy] Debussy — Clair de Lune / CANACANA

The third piece from Claude Debussy’s most famous work, the Suite bergamasque.

This dreamy, beautiful piece conjures an image of the moon floating in a quiet night sky and the mystical space bathed in its light.

Published in a revised edition in 1905, it is said to have been inspired by a poem by Paul Verlaine.

Although written for piano, it is often performed on its own, and many adults take up piano because they long to play this piece.

While not especially demanding technically, conveying the piece’s world is a formidable challenge.

It’s recommended to look at photos of moonlit landscapes and expand your concrete imagery as you play!