Portrait of Balakirev

Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev (Russian: Милий Алексеевич Балакирев, Milij Alekseevič Balakirev) (January 2, 1837 – May 29, 1910) was a Russian composer. He is better known today for bringing together the composers known as The Five than for his own music, with the possible exception of his Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy, which is still popular among pianists. Image File history File links Balakirev. ... Image File history File links Balakirev. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 (MDCCCXXXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... The Mighty Handful (Moguchaya Kuchka / Могучая Кучка in Russian), better known as The Five in English-speaking countries, was a label applied in 1867 by the critic Vladimir Stasov to a loose collection of Russian classical composers brought together under... Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy is a piece of music written by the Russian composer, Mily Balakirev. ...

Early years

Balakirev was born at Nizhny Novgorod into a poor clerk's family. He first received a musical education at the behest of his mother, who took him to Moscow in 1847 to receive lessons from Alexander Dubuque. Money problems eventually ended these lessons and forced him to return to Nizhny Novgorod. His talents did not remain unnoticed though; he soon found a patron in nobleman Alexander Oulibichev. Oulibichev was an author of a biography of Mozart and had had a private band and a vast musical library, from which Balakirev obtained a valuable education in music. Nizhny Novgorod (Russian: ), colloquially shortened as Nizhny and also transliterated into English as Nizhniy Novgorod or Nizhni Novgorod or Nizhnii Novgorod, is the fourth largest city of Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. ... Location Position of Moscow in Europe Government Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area  - City 1,081 km² Population  - City (2007)    - Density 10,469,000   8537. ... Mozart redirects here. ...

At eighteen, after a university course in mathematics, Oublichev took Balakirev to Saint Petersburg, and there he made the acquaintance of Mikhail Glinka. Glinka encouraged Balakirev to take up music as a career, advice that Balakirev took to heart. He made his debut in 1856 with the first movement from his Piano concerto. His meeting with Glinka also helped establish a spark of Russian nationalism within Balakirev, leading him to adopt the stance that Russia should have its own distinct school of music, free from Southern and Western European influences. Around him gathered composers with similar ideals: César Cui, Modest Mussorgsky, Alexander Borodin, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The five men were described by noted critic Vladimir Stasov as "a mighty handful;" they eventually became better known in English simply as "The Five." Euclid, Greek mathematician, 3rd century BC, as imagined by by Raphael in this detail from The School of Athens. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka (Russian: Mihail Ivanovič Glinka) (June 1, 1804 [O.S. May 20] - February 15, 1857 [O.S. February 3]), was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition inside his own country, and is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music. ... A piano concerto is a concerto for solo piano and orchestra. ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution. ... César Antonovitch Cui (Russian: Цезарь Антонович Кюи) (January 6/18, 1835 – March 13, 1918) was a Russian composer and music critic of French and Lithuanian descent. ... Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (Russian: , Modest Petrovič Musorgskij, French: ) (March 9/21, 1839 – March 16/28, 1881), one of the Russian composers known as the Five, was an innovator of Russian music. ... Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin (Russian: , Aleksandr Porfirevič Borodin) (31 Oct. ... Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (Russian: , Nikolaj Andreevič Rimskij-Korsakov), also Nikolay, Nicolai, and Rimsky-Korsakoff, (March 6 (O.S. March 18), 1844 – June 8 (O.S. June 21) 1908) was a Russian composer, one of five Russian composers known as The Five, and was later a teacher of harmony and... Stasov is a quintessential family of Russian intelligentsia. ... The Mighty Handful, also known as The Five in English-speaking countries (and by comparable translation of such in other languages), was a label applied in 1867 by the critic Vladimir Stasov to a loose collection of Russian classical composers brought together under the leadership of Mily Balakirev with the...

The group encountered harsh criticism from the existing Russian musical establishment in the form of Anton and Nikolai Rubinstein, who publicly called the group "amateurs" (something that was not entirely unjustified, as Balakirev was the only professional musician of the group). To conteract these criticisms and to aid in the creation of a distinctly "Russian" school of music, the group founded the Free School of Music in 1862. Rubinsteins portrait by Ilya Repin. ... Categories: Stub | 1835 births | 1881 deaths | Russian composers | Pianists | Russian musicians ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Music and influence

Balakirev was somewhat notorious for taking long periods of time to finish works; for instance, his "Sonata in B minor" was written over the course of 50 years. Nevertheless, he managed to produce a large body of work, much of which is rarely performed today. His works consist largely of songs and collections of folk songs, but include two symphonies, two symphonic poems (Russia and Tamara), and four overtures, and a number of piano pieces, including Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy. His orchestral works are generally pieces of programme music in a style developed by Balakirev's disciples, such as Borodin and Rimsky-Korsakov. Islamey is particularly favored among pianists, due to its difficult nature. A song is a relatively short musical composition for the human voice (commonly accompanied by other musical instruments), which features words (lyrics). ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the people. ... A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music, in one movement, in which some extra-musical programme provides a narrative or illustrative element. ... Overture (French ouverture, meaning opening) in music is the instrumental introduction to a dramatic, choral or, occasionally, instrumental composition. ... A grand piano, with the lid up. ... Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy is a piece of music written by the Russian composer, Mily Balakirev. ... A philharmonic orchestra An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually a fairly large instrumental ensemble with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. ... Program music is music intended to musically represent, or accompany, an extra-musical theme, constrasting with absolute music. ...

His influence as a conductor, and as an organizer of Russian music, give him the place of a founder of a new movement. Though he was one of the founders of the Free School, he strongly opposed what he termed "musical professionalism," qualities he associated with the established Russian music scene in the mid 1800s. He sought to imprint his vision of music onto his students, and was thus the defacto head of the five during their existence. He ruled this group often with a strong hand. Mussorgsky in particular often came under fire from his teacher; due to Balakirev's harsh criticism of his Night on Bald Mountain, the work was never performed in Mussorgsky's lifetime. Outside of the group, Balakirev also greatly encouraged Peter Tchaikovsky in his studies, eventually inspiring him to write the Manfred Symphony (something that Tchaikovsky acknowledged when he dedicated the piece to Balakirev). This article refers to a musical composition. ... Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский, sometimes transliterated as Piotr, Anglicised as Peter Ilich), (May 7, 1840 – November 6, 1893 (N.S.); April 25, 1840 – October... Manfred Symphony in B minor, Op. ...

Later years

Balakirev's grave at Tikhvin Cemetery

The Free School was influential, but suffered from chronic financial problems that drove Balakirev to a nervous breakdown in 1872. He took a temporary retirement from the musical world after this, leaving the school to become a railway clerk. He held several jobs, such as that of a school inspector, until 1883, when he was appointed director of the Imperial Chapel and conductor of the Imperial Musical Society. He held this post until 1895, when he took his final retirement. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1680x2240, 1096 KB) Photo of the grave of Mily Balakirev. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1680x2240, 1096 KB) Photo of the grave of Mily Balakirev. ... Tikhvin Cemetery (Тихвинское кладбище) is located at the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, in St. ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... A conductor conducting a band at a ceremony A conductors score and batons Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Balakirev died on May 29, 1910 and was interred in Tikhvin Cemetery at the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in Saint Petersburg. May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Tikhvin Cemetery (Тихвинское кладбище) is located at the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, in St. ... View of the monastery in the early 19th century Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded by Peter the Great in 1710 at the southern end of the Nevsky Prospect in St Petersburg to house the relics of Alexander Nevsky, patron saint of the newly-founded Russian capital. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...

Selected works

Works with opus numbers

• Grande Fantasie on Russian Folk Songs, Op. 4, for piano and orchestra.
• Islamey, Oriental fantasy for piano, Op. 18 (1869, revised 1902).
• Octet, Opus 3.
• Overture on a Spanish March Theme, Op. 6.
• Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1 (1855-1856).
• Piano Concerto No. 2 IN E flat major, Op. Posth. (1861).
• Piano Sonata No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 5.
• Piano Sonata No. 2 in Bb minor, Op. 102 (1905).

Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and for the common people. ... Islamey: an Oriental Fantasy is a piece of music written by the Russian composer, Mily Balakirev. ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... In music, an octet is a musical ensemble consisting of eight instruments or a musical composition written for it. ... Overture (French ouverture, meaning opening) in music is the instrumental introduction to a dramatic, choral or, occasionally, instrumental composition. ... A piano concerto is a concerto for solo piano and orchestra. ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by... A piano sonata is a sonata written for unaccompanied piano. ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Works with dates

• Reminiscences on Glinka’s opera "A Life for the Czar",fantasy for piano (2nd version of Fantasy on Glinka's themes) (1854-1855, revised 1899).
• Scherzo for Piano No. 1 in B minor (1856).
• Overture on a Spanish March Theme (1857).
• Overture on Three Russian Themes (1858).
• King Lear (Korol' Lir), incidental music Shakespeare's play (1858-1861, revised 1902-1905).
• Polka in f-sharp for piano (1859).
• Mazurka for piano No. 1 in A flat major (1861-1884).
• Mazurka for piano No. 2 in C sharp minor (1861-1884).
• Russia (Rus'), Second Overture on Russian Themes, for orchestra, Symphonic Poem (1863-1864, revised 1884).
• Jota aragonesa for Piano (after Glinka) (1864).
• "The Lark" ("Zhavronok") for piano, transcription from a song by Glinka (1864).
• Symphony No. 1 in C major (1864-1866).
• Overture on Czech Themes "In Bohemia" ("V Chechii"), Symphonic Poem, (1867, revised 1905).
• Tamara, symphonic poem (1867-1882).
• Au jardin, étude-idylle for piano in D flat major (1884).
• In the Garden, for piano (1884).
• Mazurka for piano No. 3 for Piano in B minor (1886).
• Mazurka for piano No. 4 for Piano in G flat major (1886).
• Nocturne for piano No. 1 in B flat minor (1898).
• Dumka for Piano (1900).
• Mazurka for piano No. 5 for Piano in D major (1900).
• Scherzo for Piano No. 2 in B flat minor (1900).
• Waltz for Piano No. 1 in G major "Valse di bravura" (1900).
• Waltz for Piano No. 2 in F minor "Valse mélancholique" (1900).
• Symphony No. 2 in D minor (1900-1908).
• Berceuse for Piano in D flat major (1901).
• Gondellied, for piano in A minor (1901).
• Nocturne for piano No. 2 in B minor (1901).
• Scherzo for Piano no 3 in F sharp major (1901).
• Tarantella for Piano in B major (1901).
• Waltz for Piano no 3 in D major "Valse-impromptu" (1901).
• Suite in b (1901-1908).
• Capriccio for piano in D major (1902).
• Mazurka for piano No. 6. For Piano in A flat major (1902).
• Nocturne for piano No. 3 in D minor (1902).
• Spanish melody for Piano (1902).
• Spanish Serenade for Piano (1902).
• Toccata in c-sharp for Piano (1902).
• Tyrolienne (1902).
• Waltz for Piano no 4 in B flat major "Valse de concert" (1902).
• Cantata on the Inauguration of the Glinka Memorial (dedicated to Mikhail Glinka), chorus and orchestra (1902-1904).
• Chant du pecheur (1903).
• Humoresque for Piano in D major (1903).
• Phantasiestück, for piano in D flat major (1903).
• Rêverie, for piano in F major (1903).
• Waltz for Piano No. 5 in D flat major (1903).
• Waltz for Piano No. 6 in F sharp minor (1903-1904).
• Romance (transcription for piano solo of the second movement of Chopin’s first concerto for Piano and Orchestra, opus 11) (1905).
• La fileuse for Piano in B flat minor(1906).
• Mazurka for piano No. 7. For Piano in E flat minor (1906).
• Novelette for Piano in A major (1906).
• Waltz for piano No. 7 in G sharp minor (1906).
• Impromptu for piano (after Chopin's Preludes in E flat minor and B major) (1907).
• Esquisses (Sonatina) for Piano in G major (1909).

1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... A scherzo (plural scherzi) is a name given to a piece of music or a movement from a larger piece such as a symphony. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Title page of the first quarto edition, published in 1608 King Lear is generally regarded as one of William Shakespeares greatest tragedies. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Street musicians in Prague playing a polka Polka is a type of dance, and also a genre of dance music. ... 1859 (MDCCCLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... The mazurka (Polish: mazurek, probably named after Polands Masuria district) is a Polish folk dance in triple metre with a lively tempo, containing a heavy accent on the third or second beat. ... 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... A symphony is an extended composition usually for orchestra and usually comprising four movements. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... A nocturne (from the French for nocturnal) is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night. ... Waltz is the name for the kind of music to which one dances a waltz. ... Mily Balakirev began work on his Symphony No. ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A lullaby is a soothing song sung to children before they go to sleep. ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The tarantella (tarentule, tarentella, tarantelle, tarentelle, tarantel) is a traditional dance 6/8 or 4/4 time characterised by the rapid whirling of couples. ... Year 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1903 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (in French, Frédéric François Chopin) (English: IPA: or ; French: ), (March 1, 1810[1] â€“ October 17, 1849) was a Polish pianist and composer of the Romantic era. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Undated works

• Complainte for piano.
• Fantasia for Piano.
• Overture on the Themes of 3 Russian Songs, for orchestra.
• "Say not that love will pass" for piano, transcription from a song by Glinka.

Songs with dates

• "Spanish Song" ("Ispanskaya pesnya"), for voice and piano (Forgotten Songs No. 3) (1855).
• "The Clear Moon has Risen" (1858).
• "The Knight" (1858) (20 Songs, No. 7).
• "Song of Selim" ("Pesnya Selima") (1858) (20 Songs, No. 11).
• "Hebrew Melody" (20 songs, no. 13) (1859).
• "Over the Lake" ("Nad ozerom"), song for voice and piano (1895-1896) (10 Songs, No. 1).
• "The Wilderness" (10 songs, no. 2) (1895-1896).
• "I Loved Him" ("Ya lyubila ego"), song for voice and piano (10 Songs 1895-96, No. 5).
• "The Pine Tree" (1895-1896) (10 Songs, No. 6).
• "Nocturne" (1895-1896) (10 Songs, No. 7).
• "Vision" ("Son") (10 Songs, No. 2) (1903-04).
• "7th November" (10 Songs, No. 4) (1903-04).
• "The yellow leaf trembles" ("Pesnya: Zholtďy list") (10 Songs, No. 8) (1903-04).
• "Look, my Friend" ("Vzglyani, moy drug") (20 Songs, No. 6) (1903-04).
• "The Dream" ("Son") (20 songs, no. 20) (1903-04).
• "Song: The Yellow Leaf Trembles" (1903-04).
• "Dawn" ("Zarya") (1909).

Undated songs

• "Intonation".
• "My Heart Is Torn" ("Tak i rvetsya dusha"), song for voice and piano (20 Songs, No. 9).
• "Selim's Song" ("Pesnya Selima"), for voice and piano (20 Songs, No. 11).
• "The Crescent Moon" ("Vzoshol na nebo mesyats yasnïy"), song for voice and piano (20 Songs, No. 5).
• "Thou Art So Capitvating" ("Tï plenitel'noy negi polna"), song for voice and piano (Forgotten Songs, No. 1).
• "Toujours, on me dit 'grand sot'".
• "When I Hear Thy Voice" ("Slïshu li golos tvoy"), song for voice and piano (20 Songs, No. 18).

External links

• Islamey Article
• Public Domain Scores by Balakirev at IMSLP

• Mily Balakirev Biography