Tchaikovsky
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Semen Kruglikov

Russian music critic and teacher (b. 25 May/6 June 1851 in Moscow; d. 9/22 February 1910 in Moscow), born Semen Nikolaevich Kruglikov (Семен Николаевич Кругликов, Semen Nikolaevič Kruglikov, Semyon Nikolayevich Kruglikov).

Kruglikov began his career as a civil engineer, studying of physics and mathematics at Moscow University, and forestry and mining in Saint Petersburg. During the 1870s he began to take lessons in music theory from Nikolai Rimskii-Korsakov, and assisted Milii Balakirev with running the Free School of Music in the Russian capital. In 1881 he began teaching music theory and harmony, in what was to become the Moscow Philharmonic Society's school of music and drama, becoming professor of composition (1898–1901) and the college director. From 1897 to 1899 he was also director of the Moscow Synodal School of Church Singing. However, he is best remembered as a music critic, in which capacity he contributed to various newspapers and journals from the 1880s onwards, including Contemporary News (Современные известия), Art (Искусство), Musical Review (Музыкальное обозрение), Artist (Артист), and New Day (Новости дня).

Tchaikovsky's correspondence with Semen Kruglikov:

• 4 letters from Tchaikovsky to Semen Kruglikov have survived, dating from 1887 to 1889.