The Composer
Sheherazade is a symphonic suite written by Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Rimsky-Korsakov was born on March 18, 1844 in the small village of Tikhvin, Russia, and died in Lyubensk on June 21, 1908. His father was a government official and his mother was well educated and could play the piano. As he grew up, Rimsky-Korsakov found a love for the sea. This was mostly due to an uncle who was an admiral in the Russian navy and older brother who was a marine officer.
Throughout his early life, he was torn between his two greatest loves -- the sea and music. He entered the naval academy at age 12 and began taking piano and composition lessons from Théodore Canillé, a professional pianist. In 1861, under the guidance of composer Mily Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov began composing a symphony. After graduating from the naval academy in 1862, he cruised the world on the clipper ship Almaz, visiting such ports as New York, Baltimore, Washington, Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, England, and Norway. This voyage changed Rimsky-Korsakov forever, and the everlasting impression of the sea can clearly be seen in Sheherazade.