Joseph Achron

Joseph Achron (May 13, 1886 – April 29, 1943) was a Lithuanian born composer and violinist. His preoccupation with Jewish elements and his desire to develop a 'Jewish' harmonic and contrapuntal idiom, underscored and informed much of his work. Notable composer and friend Arnold Schönberg described Achron in his obituary as "one of the most underrated modern composers". Achron was born in Lozdzieje, Poland (now Lazdijai, Lithuania) and began the study of the violin under his father, an amateur violinist, at the age of five.