A Provençal Jewish composer who often collaborated with Paul Claudel, with
whom he was attached to the French embassy in Rio de Janeiro from 1916
to 1919.
In the 1920s Milhaud was a member of "Les Six", a group of young composers who rebelled against Romanticism and Impressionism in French music. They were mentored by Erik Satie and publicized by Jean Cocteau.
As musical executor of Erik Satie's estate, Milhaud discovered several unknown Satie compositions and arranged for their publication.
Milhaud is considered one of the key modernist composers.
His compositions are influenced by jazz and Brazilian music and make extensive use of polytonality.