Anton Stepanovich Arensky

Anton Arensky (1861–1906) was a late-Romantic composer, pianist, and teacher of Polish background who worked mainly in Russia. He studied with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and later taught at the Moscow Conservatory. Through his connection with the generation of Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, Arensky occupied an important place between nineteenth-century Russian music and the early twentieth century. His music is marked by lyrical, readily memorable melodies, refined harmony, and an intimate emotional tone, combining Russian expressiveness with a graceful Western elegance. Piano music formed an important part of his output, including character pieces, dances, and works intended for study and performance. He also made effective use of the piano in chamber music, notably in his Piano Trio No. 1 and Piano Quintet. Among his best-known works are the Piano Trio No. 1, Six Pieces for Children, and Twenty-Four Pieces, which display his gift for concise, polished musical expression.