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The composing career of Albert Roussel got off to a wayward start, and received one of its biggest boosts from a lie. Roussel was orphaned at the age of eight and went to live with his grandfather. He built on the music he had learned from his mother, entertaining himself by reading through the family music collection and playing operatic selections and popular songs on the piano. Three years later Roussel’s grandfather died, and his mother’s sister took him in . Her husband arranged for young Albert to take piano lessons. Summer vacations at a Belgian seaside resort added a second love to his life—the sea. He studied to be a naval cadet, but still made time to study music. | 
