Claude Debussy Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Film, Volume 2, No. 2: “The Moon Over the Ruined Temple”Claude Debussy85rank/position

Debussy: Images II, CD 120: II. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut

Images, Book 2, by Claude Debussy, a master of Impressionist music.

Its second piece, “Cloches à travers les feuilles” (The Moon over a Ruined Temple), depicts the mysterious scene of moonlight filtering into a desolate temple.

Inspired by East Asian painting, the work was composed in 1907.

Characterized by parallel chord sonorities, it is simple yet imbued with delicate shadings.

By skillfully exploiting the piano’s resonance, it beautifully conveys stillness and a mystical atmosphere.

This piece showcases Debussy’s refined musical sensitivity to the fullest and can be seen as an ambitious work that opened new possibilities for piano music.

It is recommended not only for those interested in classical music but also for anyone seeking calm through quiet sounds.

Video, Volume 2, Track 3: “The Golden Fish”Claude Debussy86rank/position

Debussy / Images, Book II — The Goldfish; Performed by Ichiro Kaneko

Claude Debussy, often regarded as a central figure of Impressionist music, left behind numerous works employing innovative techniques.

The third piece of Images, Book II, titled “Poissons d’or” (Goldfish), was composed in 1907 and is included as the first piece in a piano suite comprising thirteen pieces.

It is said to have been inspired by a painting of koi rendered on a Japanese lacquerware object owned by Debussy.

The way the quiet opening gradually gains motion and transforms into brilliant arpeggios evokes the image of koi swimming in a river or pond.

Throughout the piece, the delicate timbres on display possess a beauty truly worthy of being called “golden.”

Video Series 1, No. 1: “Shadows Reflected on Water”Claude Debussy87rank/position

Debussy: Images, Book I – No. 1, Reflections in the Water [Naxos Classical Curation #Chic]

Claude Debussy, known as a pioneer of Impressionist music.

Composed in 1905, this work is the first piece, “Reflections in the Water,” from Book I of his four-volume collection Images.

It delicately portrays the shimmer and fluctuation of light and shadow on the water’s surface through refined tone colors, featuring complex harmonic progressions and fluid melodies.

It envelops the listener in a sensation as if watching the movement of water with one’s eyes.

Debussy broke free from traditional musical forms, emphasizing a nonlinear flow of music.

This piece was also an attempt to explore new timbres of the piano.

It is recommended for those who enjoy water-themed works or are interested in delicate sonic expression.

Ondine (water spirit)Claude Debussy88rank/position

Debussy, Ondine — Sergey Kuznetsov

A little while ago, the Shiki Theatre Company staged a production called “Ondine,” and it seems to be a relatively popular name for a water spirit.

This Ondine is depicted as a lovely water fairy in some stories, while in old tales she appears as a seductive agent of darkness.

Debussy’s “Ondine” possesses a mysterious allure.

Prints No. 1 ‘Tower’Claude Debussy89rank/position

Debussy “Estampes” Samson François

Claude Debussy, a French composer active from the 19th to the 20th century, is known as a leading figure of Impressionist music.

His works employ innovative compositional techniques that go beyond traditional harmony, profoundly influencing later composers.

The first piece of the suite “Estampes,” titled “Pagodes,” published in 1903, was composed after Debussy was inspired by Eastern cultures, particularly Javanese gamelan music.

Its distinctive harmonies and melodies using the pentatonic scale are striking, attempting a new musical expression that fuses Eastern and Western music.

Samson François’s performance superbly captures its dreamlike world, and listeners will be intoxicated by its exotic sonorities.

Images for Orchestra: IberiaClaude Debussy90rank/position

Debussy : Ibéria (Philharmonique de Radio France)

Claude Debussy, the composer who led the French music scene from the late 19th to the early 20th century, is known for his innovative compositional techniques that transcended traditional harmony and modes, pioneering the current of Impressionist music.

One of his best-known works, Images for Orchestra: “Ibéria,” is a musical depiction of an imagined Spain, captivating listeners with its richly colored orchestration and delicate harmonic nuance.

Though Debussy had little firsthand experience visiting Spain, this masterpiece is recommended for those who wish to savor his passionate and mysterious vision of the Iberian Peninsula and for anyone seeking to encounter the essence of Impressionist music.

Children’s Corner Suite, No. 4: The Snow Is DancingClaude Debussy91rank/position

Debussy / Children's Corner No. 4: The Snow Is Dancing / Performed by Ichiro Kaneko

The piano suite Children’s Corner by the French composer Claude Debussy was composed with the aim of letting adults immerse themselves in a childlike mood.

The fourth piece, “The Snow Is Dancing,” is said to depict snow sprites drifting down and covering the ground with white velvet.

The calm tone may perhaps express children gazing on in wonder, thinking, “What are the fairies doing?” Why not listen to it on a quiet night as the snow falls steadily, absentmindedly gazing out the window?

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