American composer Charles Ives is one of the most influential figures in American classical music. He was born in Danbury, Connecticut in 1874 and is known for his innovative and experimental compositions. His works often featured polytonality, polyrhythms, and dissonance, which were considered radical at the time. He is also credited with pioneering the use of modernist techniques such as collage and aleatoric elements. Ives is widely regarded as one of the most important American composers of the 20th century.