Music #372 - Mily Balakirev

Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev  - top tracks
[Милий Алексеевич Балакирев]
(1837 – 1910)

Mily Balakirev was a Russian known today primarily for his work promoting musical nationalism and his encouragement of more famous Russian composers, notably Tchaikovsky. 

He began extending the fusion of traditional folk music and experimental classical music practices begun by composer Mikhail Glinka. 

In the process, Balakirev developed musical patterns that could express overt nationalistic feeling. 

* Overture on Three Russian Themes

Balakirev brought together the composers now known as The Five. For several years, Balakirev was the only professional musician of the group; the other four were amateurs limited in musical education but possessing enormous potential. 

Balakirev also further cultivated the orientalism of Glinka's opera Ruslan and Lyudmila, making it a more consistent style. 

It appears in: 
* the Georgian Song of 1861
* Tamara - Symphonic Poem
* Islamey - oriental fantasy for solo piano - his single most frequently performed work

After a nervous breakdown and consequential sabbatical, he returned to classical music but did not wield the same level of influence as before.