Attempted at age ten to France leading music college. Debussy musical journey began with admittance into Paris conservatory. He was encouraged by an associate of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, and in 1873 he entered the Paris Conservatory, where he studied piano and composition.
It is a poem based on Stéphane Mallarmé’s 1865 poem L’après-midi d’un faune. Beginning with an alluring chromatic solo on the flute it then intoxicates the listener over ten minutes with its layered score depicting a faun enjoying the pleasures of a nice afternoon.
He drew inspiration art preferring the seascapes available in painting to the physical sea. Although the detailed scheme the work changed during its composition Debussy decided from the outset that it was to be three symphonic sketches the title was La mer.
Claude Debussy died from cancer at his home in Paris at the age of 55.
Claude Debussy, in full Achille-Claude Debussy, born August 22, 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France—died March 25, 1918, Paris French composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century.