Modern classical music is music written in the 20th century and beyond. Although much of it draws heavily on earlier forms, modern composers also experimented with rejection of long-held ideas; notably, Arnold Schoenberg questioned the traditional notions of harmony with his twelve-tone system[?], and John Cage questioned the very definition of music with his use of chance and found sounds.
... January 22 - George Balanchine, choreographer (+ 1983)
January 26 - Ancel Keys, scientist
February 1 - S. J. Perelman[?], humorist, author
February 4 - MacKinlay ...