Alexander Gretchaninov was a Russian composer known mainly for his religious music and pieces for children. He studied piano and composition at the Moscow Conservatory before working with Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov on composition and orchestration at the St. Petersburg Conservatory between 1890 and 1893. His early works that gained attention included songs, a String Quartet in G Major, and the first of his five symphonies, all composed around 1894. In 1903, one of his operas, Dobrynya Nikitich, was performed at the Bolshoi Theatre, featuring the famous bass singer Feodor Chaliapin. Another opera, Soeur Beatrice, appeared in 1912 but was quickly removed because it offended religious feelings. Gretchaninov wrote music in many forms, including a large amount of piano pieces, songs, and choral works, though his style did not develop a unique personal character. His later sacred music was written with instrumental backing, which meant it could not be used in traditional Eastern Orthodox church services. Before the 1917 Revolution, Gretchaninov received a pension for his religious compositions. After the revolution, he left Russia and moved to Western Europe, settling in Paris in 1925. He later moved to the United States in 1939 and became an American citizen in 1946. His life thus included significant periods in Russia, Europe, and the US, reflecting the changes of his time.