Raymund Murray Schafer (born July 18, 1933) is a Canadian composer, music educator, and environmentalist known for his pioneering work in soundscape composition and acoustic ecology. His genre spans contemporary classical music, with a significant focus on integrating natural sounds and concepts of the environment into musical contexts. Notable works include "The Tuning of the World" (1977), a seminal text that explores the relationship between sound and environment, and the opera "Patria," a multi-part work that highlights cultural and environmental themes. Schafer is also known for his orchestral compositions, such as "Writers" and "The Crown of Ariadne," which often incorporate unconventional instruments and sound sources. His impact on music extends beyond composition; he founded the World Soundscape Project in the late 1960s, which aimed to document and study the sound environment, influencing the fields of sound studies and ecoacoustics. Schafer's emphasis on listening and awareness of the acoustic environment has inspired generations of musicians and composers to consider the relationship between sound and place, making him a key figure in contemporary music and environmental consciousness.