claude debussy composed the three pieces in the suite at different times. the second movement, a sarabande, was composed in the winter of 1894. at that time it was part of the series of "images oubliées" (forgotten images). it is dedicated to yvonne lerolle, the daughter of henry lerolle. debussy composed did not compose much piano music during the 1890s and focused on opera and orchestral music. he finished the suite in 1901, revising sarabande. he also dedicated the revised version of sarabande, as well as the third movement, toccata, to yvonne lerolle, now mme e. rouart. the suite was published in 1901 by eugène fromont. it was premiered on 11 january 1902 at the salle érard in paris for the société nationale de musique. ricardo viñes was the pianist, who knew about the suite from his friend maurice ravel.