Profession: composer

Tchaikovsky was initially influenced by the ideas of Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Borodin and Balakirev (who offered him useful criticism), but kept a certain distance while staying cordial. He met his revered Berlioz when Berlioz visited Russia, and on tours of western Europe met Brahms and Grieg (taking to both on the spot), Gounod, and Dvořák (who maintained a warm correspondence, though they kept on just missing each other afterwards). He met Liszt in Bayreuth, but was snubbed by Wagner. He met the 13-year-old Rachmaninoff at his friend Zverev’s, and enthusiastically encouraged him as a composer.

Lutosławski, one of the major 20th C composers, also worked selflessly on behalf of cultural life in Poland. He only met Szymanowski, a seminal influence, once. Panufnik and Lutosławski, former students together, played piano duos in occupied Warsaw. Copland invited Lutosławski to the U.S., where he also met Babbitt and one of his heroes, Varèse. Rostropovich commissioned a cello concerto, and invited him along with Berio, Xenakis and Dutilleux (a fellow composer-in-residence) to help judge a prize. Britten was a long-standing friend. Lutosławski met Khachaturian in Moscow and Messiaën in Warsaw, and defended Cage against Nono.

As a young man, the gifted saxophonist Young played with Coleman, Dolphy, Cherry and Higgins. Oliveiros and Riley were fellow-students in California. Babbitt tried to tempt him to Princeton. While studying with Stockhausen in Germany, Young became close to his assistant Cardew; discovering Cage’s ideas, he corresponded with him, and became one of his students in New York. Maciunas fed him when he couldn’t afford to eat, and came through the snow to fix his heater. Warhol asked him to join a rock band. Riley and Cale were members of his group of musicians. He brought his guru Nath to the U.S.