Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891–1953) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is generally regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century. Prokofiev was born in Sontsovka (now Krasne) in the Ukraine. He displayed unusual musical abilities by the age of five. His first piano composition to be written down (by his mother), an 'Indian Gallop', was in the Lydian mode (a major scale with a raised 4th scale degree) as the young Prokofiev felt 'reluctance to tackle the black notes'. By the age of seven he had also learned to play chess.