Nikos Skalkottas  Nikos Skalkottas, in full Nikolaos Skalkottas
  (born March 21, 1904, Khalkis, Greece—died Sept. 20,
1949Athens), one of the leading Greek composers of the 20th
century.  Skalkottas began violin studies at the age of five,
continuing them later at the Athens conservatory and in Berlin,
where he also studied composition. Influenced by Schoenberg,
with whom he studied (1927–31), he began using the 12-tone
method in his compositions but adhered to traditional forms.
Returning to Athens in 1933, Skalkottas worked as an orchestral
violinist but continued to compose.  Little of his music was
performed during his lifetime, and almost none of it was
published. His major works include symphonic suites, three piano
concerti, four string quartets, and the overture The Return of
Ulysses. His settings of Greek dances are based on Balkan folk
music.