César Antonovich Cui (Russian: Цезарь Антонович Кюи, Tsezar' Antonovič Kjui) (18 January [O.S. 6 January] 1835 - March 13, 1918) was a Russian of French and Lithuanian descent. His profession was as an army officer and a teacher of fortifications; his avocational life has particular significance in the history of music, in that he was a composer and music critic; in this sideline he is known as a member of The Five, the group of Russian composers...
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César Antonovich Cui (Russian: Цезарь Антонович Кюи, Tsezar' Antonovič Kjui) (18 January [O.S. 6 January] 1835 - March 13, 1918) was a Russian of French and Lithuanian descent. His profession was as an army officer and a teacher of fortifications; his avocational life has particular significance in the history of music, in that he was a composer and music critic; in this sideline he is known as a member of The Five, the group of Russian composers under the leadership of Mily Balakirev dedicated to the production of a specifically Russian type of music.
Cesarius-Benjaminus (Цезарий-Вениамин) Cui was born in Vilnius (the capital of Lithuania), to a Roman Catholic family, as the youngest of five children. His French father Antoine (name russianized as Anton Leonardovich), had entered Russia as a member of Napoleon's army in 1812, settled in Vilnius upon their defeat, and married a local woman named Julia Gucewicz. Amidst this multi-ethnic environment young César grew up learning French,...
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