Claude-Achille Debussy was born August 22nd, 1862, at
Saint-Germain-en-Laye. He died at Paris March 22nd, 1918. He entered the
Conservatoire at the age of twelve, studying harmony with Lavignac and
piano with Marmontel. At the age of eighteen, he paid a brief visit to
Russia. But it was not until several years later that he became
acquainted with the score of "Boris Godounow," which was destined to
have so great an influence on his life, and precipitate his revolt from
Wagnerism. In 1884 he gained the Prix de Rome with his cantata "L'Enfant
prodigue." During his three-year stay at the Villa Medici he composed
"Printemps" and "La Damoiselle élue." "Ariettes oubliées" were published
in 1888, followed, in 1890, by "Cinq poèmes de Baudelaire"; in 1893 by
the string-quartet and the "Prélude à 'l'Après-midi d'un faune'"; in
1894 by "Proses lyriques"; and in 1898 by "Les Chansons de Bilitis." The
"Nocturnes" were performed for the first time in 1899. "Pelléas," upon
which Debussy had been working for ten years, was produced at the Opéra
Comique in 1902. In 1903, "Estampes" were published. "Masques," "L'Isle
joyeuse," "Danses pour harp chromatique" and "Trois chansons de France"
were published in 1904. The following year saw the disclosure of the
first book of "Images" for piano and of "La Mer." The second book of
"Images" appeared in 1906; "Ibéria" in 1907; "Trois chansons de Charles
d'Orléans" and the "Children's Corner" in 1908. "Rondes de Printemps"
was performed for the first time in 1909. In 1910 there appeared "Trois
ballades de François Villon" and the first book of "Préludes for piano."
It was in the incidental music to d'Annunzio's _Le Martyre de
Saint-Sébastien,_ performed in 1911, that Debussy's genius showed itself
for the last time in any fullness. In 1912 "Gigues" were performed; in
1913 there appeared the second book of Préludes for piano. The works
produced subsequently are of much smaller importance.