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Alexander Aleksandrovich Alyabyev (Russian: Александр
Александрович Алябьев; 15 August [O.S. 4 August] 1787 –
6 March [O.S. 22 February] 1851), also rendered as Alabiev or
Alabieff, was a Russian composer known as one of the fathers of
the Russian art song. He wrote seven operas, twenty musical
comedies, a symphony, three string quartets, more than 200
songs, and many other pieces.   Born to a wealthy family in
Tobolsk in Siberia, Alyabyev learned music in his early years.
He joined the Russian Army in 1812, during the Napoleonic War,
and fought as an officer until 1823. He participated in the
entry of the Russian forces into Dresden and Paris,[1] and he
won two awards.  After the mysterious death of a man he spent
all night gambling with in February 1825, he was arrested on a
charge of murder. While the evidence was not conclusive, Tsar
Nicholas I expressly ordered him into exile to hi