 Mily
Alekseyevich Balakirev, b. Jan. 2, 1837, d. May 29, 1910, was a leading
Russian nationalist composer. Balakirev received his earliest musical
training from his mother. He was precocious, and at the age of 14
he was made conductor of an orchestra of the nobleman Aleksandr Oulibishev,
who became his patron. In 1855 Balakirev moved to Saint Petersburg,
where he met Mikhail GLINKA, who encouraged him, and for a brief period
he was a concert pianist. Within a few years he had become the leader
of a famous group of musicians known as The FIVE (which included
Aleksandr
BORODIN, Cesar CUI, Modest MUSSORGSKY, and
Nikolai RIMSKY- KORSAKOV).
As a champion of nationalism, he wrote a number of works based on
Russian folk themes and collected and arranged many Russian folk songs. Balakirev was one of the founders (1862) of the Free Music School
in Saint Petersburg and was director (1883-95) of the Court Chapel.
Among his best-known works are the piano fantasy Islamey, the overture
Russia, and the symphonic poem Tamara. He also wrote symphonies, piano
concertos, chamber music, choral works, and many songs.
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