Mily Balakirev (1837-1910); RUS

Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev (1837–1910) was a Russian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher who played a central role in the emergence of a distinctively Russian school of composition during the nineteenth century. Born in Nizhny Novgorod, he received early piano training from his mother and later came under the influence of the music-loving aristocrat Alexander Ulybyshev, through whom he gained practical experience with orchestral music. In 1855 Balakirev moved to St. Petersburg, where he met Mikhail Glinka, whose example strongly reinforced his belief that Russian composers should develop a national musical language independent of German academic traditions. Balakirev became the leader and mentor of the circle later known as “The Five” or “The Mighty Handful,” which included César Cui, Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and Alexander Borodin. He also co-founded the Free School of Music in St. Petersburg in 1862, providing an alternative to conservatory training and promoting Russian music through concerts and education.

Balakirev's music draws extensively on Russian folk melody, colorful orchestration, modal harmony, and the musical traditions of the Caucasus and other regions of the Russian Empire. His most famous work, the virtuosic piano fantasy Islamey, was inspired by Caucasian music and became one of the most technically demanding works in the piano repertory. His orchestral compositions include the symphonic poems Russia and Tamara, the latter admired for its exotic atmosphere and brilliant orchestral color, as well as two symphonies and the overture King Lear. His piano music also includes the large-scale Piano Sonata No. 2, while his songs and arrangements reveal his sustained interest in folk sources. Balakirev composed slowly and revised many works over long periods, but his greatest historical influence came through his encouragement and criticism of the other members of The Five, helping establish the nationalist ideals that profoundly shaped Russian music in the later nineteenth century.

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Read biography at allmusic.com.