If you are someone who likes to envision spring showers, café in Paris, rolling hills, and gorgeous flowers, then you would probably like the works of Claude Debussy.
Along with Ravel, he is one of the most popular French composers of all time. In a lot of ways, he is responsible for revolutionizing the work of romantic piano. In many ways, he set the stage for modern piano.
So if you are looking for an introduction to his works, here’s our list of the greatest Debussy piano pieces of all time. Let’s get started.
1. Clair De Lune
Without a doubt, “Clair de Lune” is Debussy’s most popular piece. Even if you think you haven’t heard it, you’ll likely recognize it when you listen, as it’s been featured in many ads and movies like Ocean’s Eleven.
Most piano students learn to play this piece at some point. It’s popular in intermediate piano lessons and is part of Debussy’s 1890 publication, Suite Bergamasque.
“Clair de Lune” is a relatively slow, understated, but also beautiful work that perfectly captures Debussy’s style.
2. Reflets Dans L’eau
Next, you should check out “Reflets Dans L’eau.” It means reflections in the water, and that is exactly what you will envision as you play this piece.
As you take a look at the surface of the water, you might also be looking at the moon, the sun, or a nearby light on the street.
Regardless, Debussy and some of the most popular impressionist painters of the time envisioned ripples in the water, creating a gorgeous reflection.
Pay close attention to the music as it moves, and see if you can envision something reflecting in the water as well.
3. Et La Lune Descend Sur Le Temple Qui Fut
“Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut” is another piece from his set of Images, and he tries to imitate the sound of the orchestra, which he heard at the World Fair of 1900, which took place in Paris.
This is a unique work that opened up a new style of musical language, and as you listen to it, you will hear that new language come to life as well.
Pay close attention to the piece as the mood changes, and then consider tackling after yourself.
4. Arabesque No. 1
Another piece by Claude Debussy you might want to listen to is called Arabesque no. 1, one of two Arabesques he composed between 1888 and 1891.
This piece features many melodies that create a beautiful soundscape that captures Debussy’s unique approach to piano composition.
Listening to this piece might remind you of Art Nouveau, as both the music and art style emerged at the end of the 19th century and complement each other well.
Despite the intertwining melodies, “Arabesque No. 1” is still an intermediate piece. If you have some piano experience, you might want to try playing it!
5. Les Sons Et Les Parfums Tournent Dans L’air Du Soir
“Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir” is an absolute tapestry of various moods and images. You will hear a lot of mischief and eccentricity set against the bleakness of the overall piece.
It is a perfect reflection of everything that Debussy stands for, and his style is on full display. It was published in 1910, and a lot of people feel it is reminiscent of some of the poems of Charles Baudelaire.
It is challenging work, but it is one a lot of pianists have decided to take on.
6. Toccata
“Toccata” is a unique work that dates back to many of the earlier pieces in the world of classical piano.
Debussy was a composer of the Romantic Period, which took place after the classical works of Beethoven and Mozart. This piece is reminiscent of both the Classical and the Baroque eras.
As you listen to this piece, you may feel like you are listening to a piece written by Bach, but it is simply a showcase of the talents of Debussy.
7. Des Pas Sur La Neige
“Des pas sur la neige” is a piece that comes from Debussy’s Préludes book, and it speaks to the loneliness of the human condition. It’s meant to be reminiscent of winter, and the listener should feel like he or she is lost in a desolate landscape.
When the temperature gets cold, the winter in France can be absolutely brutal. That is exactly what people feel as they listen to this piece, and it is one the pianist should try to bring out with every note.
8. Hommage A S. Pickwick
As you might have guessed from the name, “Hommage a S. Pickwick” is a piece that pays homage to Pickwick, one of the main characters of Charles Dicken’s book The Pickwick Papers.
Even though the piece starts relatively slowly, it soon descends into a comic landscape. It has a fun, happy sound that will put a smile on the face of anyone who listens to it.
This is a piece that is meant for intermediate pianists, so you may want to try playing it for yourself.
9. Pagodes
“Pagodes” is the first of three Debussy works that fall under the category of Estampes, which he published in 1903.
At this time, Asia was still a mysterious world to many people who lived in Europe, but Debussy was attracted to the unique architecture, thus the name of the piece.
If you listen closely to the music, you will indulge in a pentatonic scale. It will be set against the backdrop of traditional European music, and the marriage of the two styles is very appealing to the listener.
10. Arabesque No. 2
If you are in the mood to do a bit of dancing, you may want to listen to Debussy’s Arabesque no. 2, the second half of Deux Arabesque.
This piece has multiple melodies that interact beautifully, creating a lively and enchanting sound. The rhythmic charm and light-hearted nature of Arabesque no. 2 make it delightful and perfect for those who enjoy graceful movement.
11. Jimbo’s Lullaby
A great piece from Debussy’s Children’s Corner is “Jimbo’s Lullaby.” As the name suggests, all the pieces are meant for children.
Either they have been written for children to listen to, or they have been written for children to learn how to play the piano.
This is a slower piece, but it is no less beautiful. The purpose of this piece was to teach children how to use the pedal as they play, but it can be played by anybody.
12. Golliwog’s Cakewalk
Our final great piano composition by Debussy is “Golliwog’s Cakewalk,” another piece from Children’s Corner. There are six pieces in all, each one evocative of playing children.
Many people call this piece “Chou Chou.” A very happy, upbeat, it bears a lot of similarities to Ragtime music that would come shortly after. But despite its fun sound, it’s not aged well due to the racist connotations of the Golliwog.
Summing Up Our List Of Piano Works of Claude Debussy
These are just a few of the many pieces that were written by Debussy. His work was varied, his pieces were vast, and his skills as a composer on full display throughout all of these works.
Some of his compositions are more challenging than others, but each one is meant to create images in your head. This is a great way for you to expand your piano repertoire, so consider checking out a few of these pieces!
