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Claude Debussy

(Achille) Claude Debussy (French: [aʃil klod dəbysi]; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Born to a family of modest means and little cultural involvement, Debussy showed enough musical talent to be admitted at the age of ten to France's leading music college, the Conservatoire de Paris. He originally studied the piano, but found his vocation in innovative composition, despite the disapproval of the Conservatoire's conservative professors. He took many years to develop his mature style, and was nearly 40 when he achieved international fame in 1902 with the only opera he completed, Pelléas et Mélisande.

Debussy's orchestral works include Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1894), Nocturnes (1897–1899) and Images (1905–1912). His music was to a considerable extent a reaction against Wagner and the German musical tradition. He regarded the classical symphony as obsolete and sought an alternative in his "symphonic sketches", La mer (1903–1905). His piano works include sets of 24 Préludes and 12 Études. Throughout his career he wrote mélodies based on a wide variety of poetry, including his own. He was greatly influenced by the Symbolist poetic movement of the later 19th century. A small number of works, including the early La Damoiselle élue and the late Le Martyre de saint Sébastien have important parts for chorus. In his final years, he focused on chamber music, completing three of six planned sonatas for different combinations of instruments.

With early influences including Russian and Far Eastern music and works by Chopin, Debussy developed his own style of harmony and orchestral colouring, derided – and unsuccessfully resisted – by much of the musical establishment of the day. His works have strongly influenced a wide range of composers including Béla Bartók, Olivier Messiaen, George Benjamin, and the jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans. Debussy died from cancer at his home in Paris at the age of 55 after a composing career of a little more than 30 years.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 22, 1862 (Saint-Germain-en-Laye), Died March 25, 1918 (Paris)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1944

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, orchestrator

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 301-325 of 347 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia (U.K.) WLX259 12-in. 3/6/1928 Fêtes, 2e partie Philippe Gaubert ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX265 12-in. 3/6/1928 Acte 2, scene 1: Un appartement dans le château, 1re partie Claire Croiza ; Armand Narçon ; Georges Truc Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and bass), with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX266 12-in. 3/6/1928 Acte 2, scene 1: Un appartement dans le château, 2e partie Claire Croiza ; Armand Narçon ; Georges Truc Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and bass), with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX267 12-in. 3/6/1928 Acte 4: Interlude, Une des tours du château Armand Narçon ; Georges Truc Bass vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX427 12-in. approximately June 10 through 12, 1928 1er quatuor en sol mineur, op. 10 Quatuor Capet String quartet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX428 12-in. approximately June 10 through 12, 1928 1er quatuor en sol mineur, op. 10 Quatuor Capet String quartet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX429 12-in. 6/11/1928 1er quatuor en sol mineur, op. 10 Quatuor Capet String quartet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX430 12-in. approximately June 10 through 12, 1928 1er quatuor en sol mineur, op. 10 Quatuor Capet String quartet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX431 12-in. approximately June 10 through 12, 1928 1er quatuor en sol mineur, op. 10 Quatuor Capet String quartet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX432 12-in. approximately June 10 through 12, 1928 1er quatuor en sol mineur, op. 10 Quatuor Capet String quartet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX433 12-in. approximately June 10 through 12, 1928 1er quatuor en sol mineur, op. 10 Quatuor Capet String quartet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX434 12-in. approximately June 10 through 12, 1928 1er quatuor en sol mineur, op. 10 Quatuor Capet String quartet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL654 10-in. approximately October 17, 1927 Gollowog's cakewalk Gil-Marchex Piano solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX814 12-in. 1/31/1929 Les ingénus; Le faune Jane Bathori ; Jane Bathori Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX815 12-in. Either 1/31/1929 or 2/2/1929 Colloque sentimental Jane Bathori ; Jane Bathori Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL848 10-in. 1/7/1928 La plus que lente Alfred Dubois ; Fernand Goeyens Violin solo, with piano composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL853 10-in. 1/19/1928 Syrinx Marcel Moyse ; Georges Truc Flute solo, with piano composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL1077 10-in. 5/12/1928 Docteur Gradus ad parnassum Ennemond Trillat Piano solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX1149 12-in. 11/6/1929 La plus que lente Marguerite Long Piano solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL1154 10-in. 10/6/1928 La cathédrale engloutie, 1re partie Marcel Ciampi Piano solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL1155 10-in. 6/11/1928 La cathédrale engloutie, 2e partie Marcel Ciampi Piano solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL1156 10-in. 6/11/1928 Minstrels Marcel Ciampi Piano solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL1157 10-in. 6/11/1928 La fille aux chevaux de lin Marcel Ciampi Piano solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL1158 10-in. 6/11/1928 Les collines d'Anacapri Marcel Ciampi Piano solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL1159 10-in. 6/11/1928 Sérénade interrompue Marcel Ciampi Piano solo composer  
(Results 301-325 of 347 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Debussy, Claude," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102597.

Debussy, Claude. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102597.

"Debussy, Claude." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102597

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