Life Mily Balakirev

1 life

1.1 years
1.2 five
1.3 saint petersburg conservatory , free school of music
1.4 mature works , prague visit
1.5 waning influence , friendship tchaikovsky
1.6 breakdown , return music

life
early years

portrait of (left right) balakirev, vladimir odoevsky , mikhail glinka ilya repin. painting anachronistic – balakirev depicted man approaching middle age, full beard; however, glinka died in 1857, when balakirev 20 years old.

balakirev born @ nizhny novgorod, poor clerk s family tatar roots. received first lessons in music mother , @ age of 4 able reproduce tunes on piano. non-musical education began @ nizhny novgorod gymnasium. when ten mother took him moscow during summer holidays course of ten piano lessons alexander dubuque, pupil of irish pianist , composer john field. after mother s death, balakirev transferred gymnasium alexandrovsky institute, boarded. balakirev s musical talents did not remain unnoticed, found patron in alexander ulybyshev (oulibicheff). ulybyshev considered leading musical figure , patron in nizhny novgorod; owned vast musical library , author of biography of wolfgang amadeus mozart.

balakirev s musical education placed in hands of pianist karl eisrach, arranged regular musical evenings @ ulybyshev estate. through eisrach, balakirev given opportunities read, play , listen music , exposed music of frédéric chopin , mikhail glinka. eisrach , ulybyshev allowed balakirev rehearse count s private orchestra in rehearsals of orchestral , choral works. eventually, balakirev, still aged 14, led performance of mozart s requiem. @ 15 allowed lead rehearsals of ludwig van beethoven s first , eighth symphonies. earliest surviving compositions date same year—the first movement of septet flute, clarinet, piano , strings , grande fantasie on russian folksongs piano , orchestra.

balakirev left alexandrovsky institute in 1853 , entered university of kazan mathematics student, along friend p.d. boborikin, later became novelist. noted in local society pianist , able supplement limited finances taking pupils. holidays spent either @ nizhny novgorod or on ulybyshev country estate @ lukino, played numerous beethoven sonatas patron book on composer. works period include piano fantasy based on themes glinka s opera life tsar, attempt @ string quartet, 3 songs published in 1908 , opening movement (the 1 completed) of first piano concerto.

after balakirev completed courses in late autumn of 1855, ulybyshev took him saint petersburg, met glinka. while glinka considered balakirev s compositional technique defective (there yet no music textbooks in russian , balakirev s german barely adequate), thought highly of talent, encouraging him take music career. acquaintance marked discussions, glinka passing several spanish musical themes balakirev, , glinka entrusting young man musical education of four-year-old niece. balakirev made debut in university concert in february 1856, playing completed movement first piano concerto. followed month later concert of piano , chamber compositions. in 1858 played solo part in beethoven s emperor concerto before tsar. in 1859 had 12 songs published. nevertheless, still in extreme poverty, supporting himself giving piano lessons (sometimes 9 day) , playing @ soirees given aristocracy.

the five

rimsky-korsakov naval cadet, @ time met balakirev

the deaths of glinka in 1857 , ulybyshev following year left balakirev without influential supporters. nevertheless, time glinka had sparked passion russian nationalism within balakirev, leading him adopt stance russia should have own distinct school of music, free southern , western european influences. had started meeting other important figures abet him in goal in 1856, including césar cui, alexander serov, stasov brothers , alexander dargomyzhsky. gathered around him composers similar ideals, whom promised train according own principles. these included modest mussorgsky in 1858; nikolai rimsky-korsakov in november 1861 , alexander borodin in november or december 1862. cui, these men described noted critic vladimir stasov mighty handful (russian: Могучая кучка, moguchaya kuchka), became better known in english five.

as instructor , influence of magnetic personality, balakirev inspired comrades improbable heights of musical creativity. however, vehemently opposed academic training, considering threat musical imagination. better in view begin composing right away , learn through act of creation. line of reasoning argued rationalization own lack of technical training. had been trained pianist , had discover own way becoming composer. rimsky-korsakov realized much, nevertheless wrote:

balakirev, had never had systematic course in harmony , counterpoint , had not superficially applied himself them, evidently thought such studies quite unnecessary.... excellent pianist, superior sight reader of music, splendid improviser, endowed nature sense of correct harmony , part-writing, possessed technique partly native , partly acquired through vast musical erudition, of extraordinary memory, keen , retentive, means in steering critical course in musical literature. then, too, marvelous critic, technical critic. instantly felt every technical imperfection or error, grasped defect in form @ once.

alexander dargomyzhsky replaced balakirev mentor five

balakirev had musical experience others in 5 lacked, , instructed them instructed himself—by empirical approach, learning how other composers solved various problems sifting through scores , seeing how addressed challenges. while approach may have been helpful balakirev, rimsky-korsakov writes, not helpful individuals different in nature balakirev or matured composers @ different intervals , in different manner .

balakirev s eventual undoing demand students musical tastes coincide own, slightest deviation prohibited. whenever 1 of them played 1 of own compositions balakirev, balakirev seat himself @ piano , show, through improvisation, how felt composition should changed. passages in other people s works came out sounding music, not own. late 1860s, mussorgsky , rimsky-korsakov stopped accepting considered high-handed meddling work, , stasov began distance himself balakirev. other members of 5 became interested in writing opera, genre balakirev did not consider highly, after success of alexander serov s opera judith in 1863, , gravitated toward alexander dargomyzhsky mentor in field.

saint petersburg conservatory , free school of music

the formation of 5 paralleled years of tsar alexander ii, time of innovation , reform in political , social climate in russia. russian musical society (rms) , musical conservatories in st. petersburg , moscow established @ time. while these institutions had powerful champions in anton , nikolai rubinstein, others feared influence of german instructors , musical precepts russian classical music. balakirev s sympathies , closest contacts in latter camp, , made derogatory comments german routine which, believed, came @ expense of composer s originality.

anton rubinstein on podium portrayed ilya repin.

balakirev outspoken in opposition anton rubinstein s efforts. opposition partly ideological , partly personal. anton rubinstein @ time russian able live on art, while balakirev had live on income piano lessons , recitals played in salons of aristocracy. @ stake viable career in music artistic director of russian musical society. balakirev attacked rubinstein conservative musical tastes, leaning on german masters such mendelssohn , beethoven, , insistence on professional musical training. balakirev s followers outspoken. mussorgsky, instance, called saint petersburg conservatory place rubinstein , nikolai zaremba, taught music theory there, dressed in professional, antimusical togas, first pollute students minds, seal them various abominations. there petty, personal side balakirev s attacks. rubinstein had written article in 1855 critical of glinka. glinka had taken article badly, , balakirev likewise took rubinstein s criticism personally. moreover, rubinstein of german , jewish descent, , balakirev s comments @ times anti-semitic , xenophobic.

the pro-conservatory followers publicly called 5 amateurs —a justified charge, balakirev professional musician of group. counteract these criticisms , aid in creation of distinctly russian school of music, balakirev , gavriil lomakin, local choirmaster, founded free school of music in 1862. rms, free school offered concerts education. unlike rms, free school offered music education @ no charge students. school emphasized singing, choral singing, meet demands of russian orthodox church. lomakin appointed director, balakirev serving assistant. raise funds school, balakirev conducted orchestral concerts between 1862 , 1867, while lomakin conducted choral ones. these concerts offered less conservative programming musically rms concerts. included music of hector berlioz, robert schumann, franz liszt, glinka , alexander dargomyzhsky, , first works of five.

mature works , prague visit

balakirev spent summer of 1862 in caucasus, in essentuki, , impressed enough region return there following year , in 1868. noted down folk tunes region , georgia , iran; these tunes play important part in musical development. 1 of first compositions show influence setting of alexander pushkin s georgian song , while quasi-oriental style appeared in other songs. in 1864, balakirev considered writing opera based on folk legend of firebird (a subject upon igor stravinsky later base ballet firebird), abandoned project due lack of suitable libretto. completed second overture on russian themes same year (1864), performed april @ free school concert , published in 1869 musical picture title 1000 years.

bedřich smetana, whom balakirev quarreled on prague production of glinka s opera life tsar

in 1866, balakirev s collection of russian folksongs published. these arrangements showed great insight rhythm, harmony , types of song, although key signatures , elaborate textures of piano accompaniments not idiomatic. started symphony in c major, of completed of first movement, scherzo , finale 1866. @ point, however, balakirev had trouble finishing large works; symphony not finished until decades later. began second piano concerto in summer of 1861, slow movement thematically connected requiem occupied him @ same time. did not finish opening movement until following year, set aside work 50 years. suffered periods of acute depression, longed death , thought destroying manuscripts. still able complete works quickly. began original version of islamey in august 1869, finishing month later. nikolai rubinstein premiered oriental fantasy, balakirev considered sketch symphonic poem tamara, december.

balakirev intermittently spent time editing glinka s works publication, on behalf of composer s sister, lyudmilla shestakova. @ behest, travelled prague in 1866 arrange production of glinka s operas there. project delayed due austro-prussian war until following year. prague production of life tsar under direction of bedřich smetana reportedly horrified balakirev, balakirev taking issue musical tempos, casting of various roles, , costumes— [i]t though smetana trying turn whole piece farce. [f]ive weeks of quarrels, intrigues smetana , party, , intensive rehearsals followed, balakirev attending every rehearsal. balakirev suspected smetana , others influenced pro-polish elements of czech press, labeled production tsarist intrigue paid russian government. had difficulties production of ruslan , lyudmila under direction, czechs refusing pay cost of copying orchestral parts, , piano reduction of score, balakirev conducting rehearsals, mysteriously disappearing. biographer mikhail zetlin writes, hard say, nowadays, whether balakirev s suspicions justified or whether partly due own high-strung disposition. regardless, though life tsar , ruslan , lyudmila successes, balakirev s lack of tact , despotic nature created considerable ill feelings between him , others involved, , smetana no longer speaking each other.

during visit, balakirev sketched , partly orchestrated overture on czech themes; work performed @ may 1867 free school concert given in honor of slav visitors all-russian ethnographical exhibition in moscow. concert which, in review, vladimir stasov coined phrase moguchaya kuchka ( mighty handful ) describe five.

balakirev encouraged rimsky-korsakov , borodin complete first symphonies, premieres conducted in december 1865 , january 1869 respectively. conducted first performance of mussorgsky s destruction of sennacherib in march 1867 , polonaise boris godunov in april 1872.

waning influence , friendship tchaikovsky

when anton rubinstein relinquished directorship of rms concerts in 1867, balakirev suggested replace him. conservative patron rms, grand duchess elena pavlovna, agreed—provided nikolai zaremba, had taken on rubinstein @ saint petersburg conservatory appointed, along distinguished foreign composer. choice of berlioz foreign conductor lauded, balakirev s appointment seen less enthusiastically. balakirev s uncompromising nature caused tension @ rms, , preference modern repertoire earned him enmity of elena pavlovna. in 1869, informed him services no longer required.

pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky @ time wrote romeo , juliet balakirev s support

the week after balakirev s dismissal, impassioned article in defense appeared in contemporary chronicle. author pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. balakirev had conducted tchaikovsky s symphonic poem fatum , characteristic dances opera voyevoda @ rms, , fatum had been dedicated balakirev. appearance of tchaikovsky s article may have been calculated, knew elena pavlovna due in moscow, lived, day article appear. sent 2 notes balakirev; first alerted him elena pavlovna s planned presence in moscow, , second thanked balakirev criticisms had made fatum after conducting it. balakirev s immediate response positive , enthusiastic.

this exchange of letters grew friendship , creative collaboration on next 2 years, balakirev helping tchaikovsky produce first masterpiece, fantasy-overture romeo , juliet. after romeo , juliet, 2 men drifted apart balakirev took sabbatical music world. in 1880, balakirev received copy of final version of score of romeo tchaikovsky, care of music publisher besel. delighted tchaikovsky had not forgotten him, replied invitation tchaikovsky visit him in saint petersburg. in same letter, forwarded programme symphony, based on lord byron s poem manfred, balakirev convinced tchaikovsky handle wonderfully well. programme had been penned stasov hector berlioz. tchaikovsky refused, 2 years later changed mind, partly due balakirev s continued prodding on project. manfred symphony, finished in 1885, became largest, complex work tchaikovsky had written point. romeo , juliet , fatum, tchaikovsky dedicated manfred symphony balakirev.

when lomakin resigned director of free music school in february 1868, balakirev took place there. once had left rms, concentrated on building attendance concerts of free music school. decided recruit popular soloists , found nikolai rubinstein ready help. elena pavlovna furious. decided raise social level of rms concerts attending them court. rivalry caused financial difficulties both concert societies rms membership declined , free music school continued suffer chronic money troubles. free music school not pay balakirev , had cut 1870–71 series short. rms scored coup de grâce of assigning programming mikhaíl azanchevsky, took on director of saint petersburg conservatory in 1871. azanchevsky more progressively-minded musically predecessors, staunch believer in contemporary music on whole , russian contemporary music in particular. opening concert of rms 1871–72 season, had conductor eduard nápravník present first public performances of tchaikovsky s romeo , juliet , polonaise mussorgsky s boris godunov. implicit recognition of balakirev s ideas made own concerts seem unnecessary , redundant. balakirev hoped solo recital in hometown of nizhny novgorod in september 1870 restore reputation , prove profitable. neither happened—he played empty house, , profits of recital amounted 11 rubles. added these professional troubles death of father in june 1869, , financial responsibility younger sisters resulting it.

breakdown , return music

in spring of 1871, rumors circulated balakirev had suffered nervous breakdown. friends visited him found no trace of former self; in place of former vivacity, energy , drive, found him silent, withdrawn , lethargic. borodin wrote rimsky-korsakov wondered whether balakirev s condition little better insanity. concerned balakirev s coolness toward musical matters, , hoped not follow example of author nikolai gogol , destroy manuscripts. took five-year break music, , withdrew musical friends, did not destroy manuscripts; instead stacked them neatly in 1 corner of house. in mental state, neglected give post director of free music school, , directors of school @ loss do. resigned in 1874 , replaced rimsky-korsakov. nikolai rubinstein offered him professorship @ moscow conservatory refused, stating musical knowledge empirical , did not have enough knowledge of music theory take on such position. financial distress forced balakirev become railway clerk on warsaw railroad line in july 1872.

balakirev s grave @ tikhvin cemetery

in 1876, balakirev began reemerging music world, without intensity of former years. stasov wrote rimsky-korsakov in july balakirev busy composing symphonic poem tamara still did not wish see of old musical circle, there talks music, not have under circumstances. nevertheless inquires interest... balakirev began sending individuals rimsky-korsakov private lessons in music theory. paved way rimsky-korsakov make occasional visits balakirev. autumn these visits had become frequent. also, lyudmilla shestarova asked him edit glinka s works publication, in consort anatoly lyadov , rimsky-korsakov.

in 1881, balakirev offered directorship of moscow conservatory, along conductorship of moscow branch of russian musical society. perhaps keeping in mind experience saint petersburg branch of russian musical society years earlier, declined position. instead, resumed directorship of free school of music. in 1882 finished tamara , revised symphonic picture 1,000 years 2 years later, retitling rus. in 1883, appointed director of imperial chapel; rimsky-korsakov became assistant. held post until 1895, when took final retirement , composed in earnest. between 1895 , 1910 completed 2 symphonies, piano sonata , 2 movements of second piano concerto, along republishing collection of folk-song arrangements.

while balakirev resumed musical tuesday gatherings @ home 1880s, music patron mitrofan belyayev became fixture of russian classical music scene @ time. composers, including alexander glazunov , rimsky-korsakov, attended these meetings. however, balakirev s modest gatherings proved no match belyayev s lavish friday gatherings, nor compete commissions, prizes , performances belyayev offered. balakirev did not take advantage of belyayev s services in these areas, felt promoted inferior music, , lowered quality of russian music. musicologist richard taruskin asserts reason balakirev did not participate belyayev circle was not comfortable participating in group @ not @ center. exception balakirev s collection of folk songs, belyayev bought rights after death of songs initial publisher. otherwise, balakirev remained without publisher until 1899, when met saint petersburg music publisher j.h. zimmermann. through zimmermann s efforts balakirev prepared several works publication, including 2 symphonies.

unlike earlier days, when played works in progress @ gatherings of five, balakirev composed in isolation. aware younger composers considered compositional style old-fashioned. except glazunov, whom brought rimsky-korsakov prodigy, , later acolyte sergei lyapunov, balakirev ignored younger generation of russian composers.

balakirev died on 29 may 1910 , interred in tikhvin cemetery @ alexander nevsky monastery in saint petersburg.