Nocturnes for Orchestra in Full Score

by Claude Debussy

Described by the composer as a "study in gray painting," this three-movement work exemplifies the aural impressionism synonymous with Debussy's name. Shaded by his unique orchestral palette, three evocative scenes include the summer love of "Nuages," the celebration of "Fétes," and the seduction of the "Sirèns."
The work is reproduced here from an authoritative edition, complete with bar-numbered movements for easy reference. Ideal for study in the classroom, at home, or in the concert hall, this affordable miniature-score edition offers music lovers, performers, and students an opportunity to appreciate the splendor of Debussy's art.

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 2005

About the author

Claude-Achille Debussy (22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures associated with Impressionist music, though he himself disliked the term when applied to his compositions. He was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in his native France in 1903. Debussy was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his use of non-traditional scales and chromaticism influenced many composers who followed.

Debussy's music is noted for its sensory content and frequent usage of non-traditional tonalities. The prominent French literary style of his period was known as Symbolism, and this movement directly inspired Debussy both as a composer and as an active cultural participant.