Studies at the Paris Conservatory
Studied composition with Gabriel Fauré at the Paris Conservatory.
Composed 'Sérénade grotesque', his earliest work to be performed publicly.
Expelled from the Paris Conservatory for not winning the Prix de Rome.
Composing Early Works
Met Erik Satie, who influenced his musical style.
Composed 'Pavane pour une infante défunte'.
Met Claude Debussy, another influential figure in his career.
Composed 'Jeux d'eau', a seminal work in the piano repertoire.
Started attending the 'Apaches', a group of innovative young artists.
Composed the String Quartet, his first major success.
Traveled to London for the first time.
Association with Les Apaches
Composed 'Jeux d'eau', a seminal work in the piano repertoire.
Started attending the 'Apaches', a group of innovative young artists.
Composed the String Quartet, his first major success.
Traveled to London for the first time.
Composed 'Miroirs', a suite for piano.
Composed 'Introduction and Allegro' for harp, flute, clarinet, and string quartet.
Composed 'Histoires naturelles', a song cycle.
Composed 'Rapsodie espagnole', an orchestral work.
Composed 'Gaspard de la nuit', a suite for piano.
Composed 'Daphnis et Chloé', a ballet commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev.
Composed 'Valses nobles et sentimentales', a set of waltzes for piano.
Composed 'Ma Mère l'Oye', a suite for piano duet, later orchestrated.
Composed 'Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé', a song cycle.
Service in World War I
Début de la Première Guerre mondiale
Mother passed away.
Composed 'Le Tombeau de Couperin', a suite for piano in memory of friends lost in the war.
Révolution d'Octobre en Russie
Composing Major Works
Composed 'La Valse', a choreographic poem for orchestra.
Signature du Traité de Versailles
International Tours
Toured internationally as a pianist.
Composed the opera 'L'Heure espagnole'.
Composed the opera 'L'Enfant et les sortilèges', a collaboration with Colette.
Composed 'Tzigane', a rhapsodic piece for violin and piano.
Composed the Sonata for Violin and Piano.
Embarked on a four-month tour of North America.
Composed 'Chansons madécasses', a song cycle.
Composed 'Boléro', his most famous work, commissioned by Ida Rubinstein.
Composed the Piano Concerto in G major.
Composed the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major.
Composed 'Don Quichotte à Dulcinée', a song cycle.
Declining Health and Last Compositions
Underwent surgery in an attempt to improve his health.
Composed the last of his 'Trois Chansons', a set of songs for a cappella chorus.
Health declined significantly, unable to compose.
Underwent experimental brain surgery, which failed to improve his condition.