Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Bibliographies and Guides to Resources
- Briscoe, James R. Claude Debussy: A Guide to Research. Garland Composer
Resource Manuals, 27. New York: Garland: 1990. xxi, 504p. ISBN 0-8240-
5795-8. ML134 .D26 B7.
Consists of a chronology, worklist, and 862 annotated entries that present the
core literature on Debussy. Also a valuable section on the letters, including
printed and manuscript collections and an index to all of them. With a general,
nonexpansive index (to page numbers, not entry numbers) through which it is
possible, if laborious, to track down some 150 writings about Pelléas. - Abravanel, Claude. Claude Debussy: A Bibliography.Detroit Studies in Music
Bibliography, 29. Detroit: Information Coordinators, 1974. 214p. ISBN 0-
911772-49-9. ML113 D483 no.29.
The most complete bibliography, with 1,854 books, articles, and dissertations
noted. Full bibliographic data but no annotations. On Pelléas,we find a listing
of premiere reviews from France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and the
U.S., then 142 writings about the work. Index of names.
Periodicals
731.Cahiers Debussy,1–3, 1974–1976; n.s., 1–, 1977–. St.-Germaine-en-Laye:
Centre de Documentation Claude Debussy, 1977–.
The only Debussy periodical, offering a wide range of brief notices and reports
and occasional longer articles. Contents of all issues 1974–1987 are in Briscoe
(#729), entry 123.Biographies
- Lockspeiser, Edward. Debussy.5th ed. Rev. R. Langham Smith. London: Dent,
- 421p. ISBN 0-460-02192-2. ML410 .D28 L8.
First edition, 1936. The principal one-volume biography in English, based on
the following item: - Lockspeiser, Edward. Debussy: His Life and Mind.London: Cassell, 1962–
- 2v. Reprint, New York: Cambridge U.P., 1978. ISBN (Cambridge) 0-521-
220563.X. ML410 .D28 L85.
The standard life and works, fully documented. Regarding Pelléasthere is an
extensive genesis, consideration of Wagner and other influences, and recep-
tion. Chronology, bibliography, index.
See also #2268, which includes an up-to-date section on Debussy by Roger Nichols.
Pelléas et Mélisande
ASO9 (1977), COH (1989), ENOG 9 (1982).
- Parks, Richard S. The Music of Claude Debussy. New Haven, Conn.: Yale
U.P., 1989. xiv, 366p. ISBN 0-300-044439-9. ML410 .D28 P24.
Claude Debussy 151