Claude Debussy

Achille-Claude Debussy (August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918) was a French composer. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the last century; his music represents the transition from late-romantic music to 20th century modernist music. Debussy's music was completely unorthodox for its time. His pieces are often characterized by time signatures and rhythmic passages that evoke a feeling of flow rather than adhering to a rigid sense of time. His most dramatic contribution was his disregard for traditional ideas of chord structure and tonality.