Pyotr (Peter) Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893), was a Russian composer of the Romantic era.  Although not a member of the group of Russian composers usually known in English-speaking countries as 'The Five', his music has come to be known and loved for its distinctly Russian character as well as for its rich harmonies and stirring melodies. His works, however, were much more western than those of his Russian contemporaries as he effectively used international elements in addition to national folk melodies.