Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Pyotr (Peter) Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильич Чайкoвский, Pjotr Il’ič Čajkovskij; listen ) (7 May O.S. 25 April] 1840 – 6 November O.S. 25 October] 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic era.

Although not a member of the group of Russian composers usually known in English-speaking countries as "The Five", his music has come to be known and loved for its distinctly Russian character as well as for its rich harmonies and stirring melodies. His works, however, were much more western than those of his Russian contemporaries as he effectively used international elements in addition to national folk melodies.

As biographer Anthony Holden maintains, no indigenous tradition of Russian music existed before Tchaikovsky's birth in 1840 other than folk tunes and a cappella ecclesiastical music. In 1913, twenty years after Tchaikovsky's death, Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring erupted onto the musical scene, signalling Russia's arrival into 20th century music. Between these two very different worlds, Holden concludes, Tchaikovsky's music became the sole bridge.