
(1862 - 1918)
Claude Debussy was in 1862 and was amongst the most influential composers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His mature compositions were distinctive and appealing and combined modernism and sensuality so successfully that their sheer beauty often obscures their technical innovation. Debussy is considered the founder and leading exponent of musical Impressionism. The son of a shopkeeper and a seamstress, Debussy began piano studies at the Paris Conservatory at the age of 11. While a student there, he encountered the wealthy Nadezhda von Meck (most famous as Tchaikovsky's patroness) who employed him as a music teacher to her children; through travel, concerts and acquaintances, she provided him with a wealth of musical experience.
Claude Debussy Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra
Timpani + 1 percussion
Clash cymbals, suspended cymbal
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Five Etudes for Orchestra (orch Aaron Jay Kernis)
No Timpani + 2 percussion + celeste
Marimba, suspended cymbal, large clash cymbals, xylophone, orchestral bass drum, snare drum, triangle, timpani glockenspiel, piccolo snare drum, 2 octaves crotales, tambourine - celeste
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Images (whole suite)
Timpani + 5 percussion
Tubular bells, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, tenor drum, triangle, tambourine, snare drum, castanets, xylophone, orchestral bass drum
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Images - Gigues
Timpani + 2 percussion
1) xylophone, snare drum 2) suspended cymbal, clash cymbals
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Images - Iberia
Timpani + 5 percussion
1) tambourine, 2) snare drum, castanets, 3) tubular bells, F G A, 4) xylophone, 5) clash cymbals, suspended cymbal
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Images - Rondes de Printemps
Timpani + 3 percussion
1) tambourine 2) suspended cymbal, clash cymbals 3) triangle
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Jeux
Timpani + 3 percussion
1) xylophone, triangle, 2) tambourine, 3) clash cymbals, suspended cymbal
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L'Apres mid d'une faune
No Timpani + 1 percussion2 pairs of crotales (E nat & B nat)
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La Boite a Joujoux
Timpani + 4 percussion
Suspended cymbal, clash cymbals, triangle, snare drum, orchestral bass drum
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La Mer
Timpani
Int'l 32/29/26/23 Prem 32/30/28/25 Hi Ab at the end
3 percussion
Tam tam, glockenspiel, orchestral bass drum, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, triangle
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Le Martyre de Saint Sebastian
Timpani + 1 percussion
Suspended cymbal, clash cymbals, orchestral bass drum, tam tam
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Marche Ecossaise
Timpani + 2 percussion
1) snare drum 2) suspended cymbal
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Nocturnes
Timpani + 2 percussion
Snare drum, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal
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Pelleas and Melisande
Timpani + 3 percussion
Clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, triangle, glockenspiel, G tubular bell
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