Books by Claude Debussy

Debussy's sole completed opera was given its premiere at Paris' Opera Comique on April 30, 1902. It was the culmination of an eight-year effort on the composer's part. Though not an immediate sensation like Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" two years later in Milan, the five-act lyric drama, after the identically titled play by Maeterlinck, enjoyed a successful run in the first two decades of the 20th century. This new vocal score is a digitally-enhanced reprint of the one issued in Paris by A. Durand et Fils in 1907, with an English translation of the text by Harry Grafton Chapman appearing beneath the original French. Now available in a convenient, readable A4 format at an affordable price. In contrast to so many of the on-demand scores now available, this one comes with all the pages and the images have been thoroughly checked to make sure it is actually readable. As with all PLP scores a percentage of each sale is donated to the amazing online archive of free music scores and recordings, IMSLP - Petrucci Music Library. Wikipedia article IMSLP page

Originally composed for piano duet, Debussy's Peite suite was first peformed in Paris by the composer and Jacques Durand at a private hearing on February 2, 1889 and became immediately popular after its publication the same year. Its widespread popularity resulted in demands from the publisher for an orchestral setting. The composer, too busy with new works, ultimately assigned the orchestration task to the conductor Henri Busser. This is the orchestral version most widely performed and recorded today. This is a newly-engraved urtext edition of this orchestral favorite prepared by one of Serenissima's finest editors Richard W. Sargeant Jr. IMSLP page All Music Guide

Score to Claude Debussy''s La Sérénade Interrompue (Prelude 23), orchestrated by Colin Matthews. During his time as the Hallé Orchestra’s Composer in Association between 2001 and 2010, Colin Matthews spent five years making orchestral versions of all 24 of Debussy’s Preludes. He has been heralded for the success with which he has taken the inspiration of the piano masterpieces and skilfully created orchestral works of great variety, beauty and drama. Indeed, following their critical reception these works are being taken up and performed by orchestras across the world.

Score to Claude Debussy''s Des Pas Sur La Neige (Prelude 19), orchestrated by Colin Matthews. During his time as the Hallé Orchestra’s Composer in Association between 2001 and 2010, Colin Matthews spent five years making orchestral versions of all 24 of Debussy’s Preludes. He has been heralded for the success with which he has taken the inspiration of the piano masterpieces and skilfully created orchestral works of great variety, beauty and drama. Indeed, following their critical reception these works are being taken up and performed by orchestras across the world.

Score to Claude Debussy''s Les Fées Sont D''exquises Danseuses (Prelude 16), orchestrated by Colin Matthews. During his time as the Hallé Orchestra’s Composer in Association between 2001 and 2010, Colin Matthews spent five years making orchestral versions of all 24 of Debussy’s Preludes. He has been heralded for the success with which he has taken the inspiration of the piano masterpieces and skilfully created orchestral works of great variety, beauty and drama. Indeed, following their critical reception these works are being taken up and performed by orchestras across the world.

Score to Claude Debussy''s La puerta del vino (Prelude 12), orchestrated by Colin Matthews. During his time as the Hallé Orchestra’s Composer in Association between 2001 and 2010, Colin Matthews spent five years making orchestral versions of all 24 of Debussy’s Preludes. He has been heralded for the success with which he has taken the inspiration of the piano masterpieces and skilfully created orchestral works of great variety, beauty and drama. Indeed, following their critical reception these works are being taken up and performed by orchestras across the world.

Score to Claude Debussy''s Canope (Prelude 4), orchestrated by Colin Matthews. During his time as the Hallé Orchestra’s Composer in Association between 2001 and 2010, Colin Matthews spent five years making orchestral versions of all 24 of Debussy’s Preludes. He has been heralded for the success with which he has taken the inspiration of the piano masterpieces and skilfully created orchestral works of great variety, beauty and drama. Indeed, following their critical reception these works are being taken up and performed by orchestras across the world.

Debussy's one-act ballet, or 'Poème dansé', was given its first performance by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes on May 15, 1913 with scenery by Léon Bakst; Vaslav Nijinsky was the featured dancer and Pierre Monteux conducted. Despite the exquisitely-crafted score, the ballet's premiere was overshadowed by the riotous premiere by the same company of Stravinsky's Le sacre du printemps just two weeks later. Fortunately, Debussy's music has continued life as a concert work over the past century. The score reproduced here was first issued in Paris by Durand et Cie. at the end of 1913. As with all PLP scores a percentage of each sale is donated to the amazing online archive of free music scores and recordings, IMSLP - Petrucci Music Library. Wikipedia article IMSLP page

Composed for the American amateur saxophonist Elise Hall in 1903, Debussy left the orchestration incomplete at his death. The task of finishing the orchestral score fell to Jean Roger-Ducasse, who prepared the orchestral version in time for its premiere on May 14, 1919 in Paris, conducted by Debussy's student André Caplet. The present study score is a digitally-enhanced reprint of the score issued by Durand et Cie. in 1919. In contrast to so many of the on-demand scores now available, this one comes with all the pages and the images have been thoroughly checked to make sure it is actually readable. As with all PLP scores a percentage of each sale is donated to the amazing online archive of free music scores and recordings, IMSLP - Petrucci Music Library.

This is a new, digitally-enhanced reissue of the score originally published in 1911 by Durand et Cie., Paris. Originally composed in 1910 for piano solo, Children's Corner was scored for small orchestra two years later by Debussy's student and good friend André Caplet, who conducted the premiere in Boston. This is the orchestral version most widely performed and recorded today. It is a brilliant example of early 20th century orchestral writing. In contrast to so many of the on-demand scores now available, this one comes with all the pages and the images have been thoroughly checked to make sure it is readable. IMSLP page Wikipedia

Syrinx by Claude Debussy arranged for Alto Saxophone by Jean-Marie Londeix.