Claude Debussy - Clair de Lune; Deux arabesques; Images I & II; Children's Corner
This was the first album I bought on my own. It has to be said this wasn't my own idea but a teacher's, when I wasn't good enough to read the sheet music, but I think it should be mentioned on this list because it really had an effect on me. To me this music was about textures and colours and sound that all together created a wonderful timeless space where beginnings and endings seem to matter very little in the movement of the music. If you have played pieces of music from the German tradition from before and around this period you will immediately feel how floating and free this music is. This album led me onto other great works of his, for example the third movement of his string quartet and Études, as well as getting me into Ravel's and Satie's piano works.