Achille-Claude Debussy, a French Impressionist composer, was born August 22, 1862 in St. Germain-en-Layeand and died March 25, 1918. His music defines the transition from late-Romantic music to 20th century modernist music.
Influenced by the contemporary symbolist poet Stéphane Mallarmé, Debussy wrote one of his most famous works, the revolutionary Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune. In contrast to the large orchestras so favoured by late-romanticism, Debussy wrote this piece for a smaller ensemble, emphasising instrumental colour and timbre.
