Claude Debussy Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Prélude to the Afternoon of a FaunClaude Debussy22rank/position

Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Claude Debussy, known as a pioneer of Impressionist music.

The orchestral work he composed between 1892 and 1894 can truly be called a masterpiece in which his talent blossomed.

Inspired by a poem by Mallarmé, the piece depicts the reverie of a faun on a summer afternoon.

Opening with a flute solo, with the harp heightening the mood, it evokes the feeling of a drowsy, sultry afternoon.

His skillful use of the flute’s middle register to convey a languid atmosphere was innovative for its time.

At its premiere in December 1894, it was so well received that it was encored twice, and it became a masterpiece that exerted a major influence on modern music.

Children’s Corner No. 5: The Little ShepherdClaude Debussy23rank/position

Debussy “The Little Shepherd” Paul Barton, FEURICH HP piano

The fifth piece from the piano suite Children’s Corner, which Claude Debussy composed for his beloved daughter Emma.

It is a work marked by a quiet melody with dotted rhythms.

The key to this piece lies in its exquisite sense of timing and space.

Rather than reproducing the notated rhythm exactly as written, it’s important to play while cherishing the moments of silence.

That said, for those who haven’t had much exposure to Debussy’s music, it can be difficult to grasp the feel.

Studying the phrasing and timing by listening to renowned pianists’ performances may help you acquire Debussy’s distinctive style more quickly.

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Forgotten Images: No. 2, “Memories of the Louvre”Claude Debussy24rank/position

Debussy: Souvenir du Louvre / Hiroshi Kurokawa (pf.)

Comprising three pieces, “Images oubliées” was published roughly 55 years after the death of Claude Debussy.

The second piece, “Souvenir du Louvre,” is a very beautiful work that combines gravity and elegance.

The instruction, “with the feeling of a slightly time-worn portrait commemorating a memory of the Louvre,” indicates that the piece evokes an artwork whose sense of grandeur deepens over time.

It would be wonderful to perform it while savoring the many expressions packed into the piece—its delicacy, brilliance, and melancholy.

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Bergamasque Suite No. 4 “Passepied”Claude Debussy25rank/position

Passepied (Debussy) – Debussy – Passepied – Suite bergamasque – pianomaedaful

Among the pieces in Claude Debussy’s Suite bergamasque, “Passepied” is distinguished by its atmosphere that combines lightness with elegance.

Begun in 1890 and revised and published in 1905, the suite is based on a dance originating in Brittany.

It contains passages that demand both delicate touch and bold expression, such as the left hand’s continuous eighth‑note accompaniment and 3‑against‑4 polyrhythms, making it a perfect work for piano students aiming to improve their skills.

Cherish the lively, airy mood, and perform it with expressive nuance!

Children’s Corner No. 4: “The Snow Is Dancing”Claude Debussy26rank/position

Debussy “The Snow is Dancing” Paul Barton, FEURICH HP piano

This piece evokes the pure gaze of children quietly watching snow pile up by the window.

The continuous sixteenth-note patterns intricately depict the fluttering snowflakes.

The alternating passages played with both hands are like countless snow crystals drifting down from the sky.

Composed in 1908 for the composer’s beloved three-year-old daughter, the work delicately expresses a world shaped by a child’s rich imagination.

Through the contrast of staccato and legato, as well as nuanced pedal work, one can sense both the hush of falling snow and the life concealed within it.

It is a recommended piece for those wishing to become familiar with classical music or to step away from daily life and spend a moment in quiet serenity.

Video, Episode 2: “And Then the Moon Falls on the Abandoned Temple”Claude Debussy27rank/position

From Images, Book II: “Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut” (Debussy) — And the moon descends on the temple that was

This piece delicately portrays a mystical scene of an ancient temple bathed in moonlight through the use of the whole-tone scale and an Eastern pentatonic scale.

Composed by Claude Debussy in 1907 for piano, it exudes a serene, meditative atmosphere.

Within an unhurried flow of time, the moonlight pouring over a ruined temple is expressed through subtle harmonic resonances and fluid rhythms.

The work features relatively simple harmonic progressions, and with attention to pedal technique, it is approachable even for those who have only recently begun studying the piano.

It is a piece that invites you to experience an exotic musical world unique to Debussy, who had a profound interest in Eastern cultures—please try performing it.

Little Suite No. 1: En bateauClaude Debussy28rank/position

Debussy / Petite Suite: I. En bateau / Performed by Piano Duo DUOOR

Claude Debussy’s Petite Suite is well known as a piece suitable for intermediate players.

This time, I’d like to introduce the especially famous first movement, En bateau.

In terms of difficulty, it sits right in the middle of the intermediate range.

Set in G major and 6/8 time, the piece is characterized by a melody that rides over wave-like broken chords, creating a sound that is both brilliant and refreshingly light.

It’s a staple for recitals, so be sure to give it a listen.

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Ryo

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