Gretchaninov, Alexander Tikhonovich b. October 25, 1864 d. January 4, 1956 Composer. A transitional figure in Russian music, he helped bridge the divide between the romantic and modern eras. Gretchaninov was born in Moscow. He claimed he did not see a piano until he was 14 because his parents, semi-literate shopkeepers, expected him to take over the business, and it was not until 1881 that he secretly began taking courses with Anton Arensky at the Moscow Conservatory. Following nine years of piecemeal study, Arensky declared he was hopeless as a musician...[Read More] (Bio by: Robert Edwards) Saint Vladimirs Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Jackson, Ocean County, New Jersey, USA
b. October 25, 1864 d. January 4, 1956