The largest Russian composer Balakirev Milii Alekseevich, whose works still do not lose their relevance, is known not only for his outstanding creativity, but also as the creator and ideological inspirer of the whole movement in Russian music.
Childhood and family
The future composer was born on January 2, 1837 in Nizhny Novgorod. His father, Balakirev Alexey Konstantinovich, was a titular adviser of noble origin, his mother was engaged in children. The family adhered to traditional Christian views, and the boy grew up very religious, he was even teased at home, calling him “the future bishop”. Faith throughout life remained for Balakirev an important topic. From an early age, the child showed musical abilities, and mother noticed this.
The first musical experiences
Already at the age of 6-7 years, Balakirev Mily Alekseevich, under the guidance of his mother, begins to learn to play the piano, demonstrating significant successes. In order to give her son the best skills, his mother takes him to Moscow. There he takes a short course in piano technique with the famous composer and teacher Alexander Dubyuk. Then, at home, he continues to master the instrument under the guidance of a local pianist and conductor K. Eiserich. It was the musician who introduced Balakirev to Alexander Dmitrievich Ulybyshev, a philanthropist, amateur musician, enlightener, who played a very important role in the life of the composer. A brilliant society of local thinkers, writers, and musicians gathered in his house, concerts were held, and problems of art were discussed. Here the foundation was laid for the aesthetic worldview of Balakirev.
Study
The mother of the future composer died early, this put an end to Balakirev's systematic studies of music. Later, his father married again, his salaries were barely enough for a large family, and there was no question of paying for his studies. At the age of 12, the boy is sent to the Nizhny Novgorod Nobility Institute, where he receives secondary education at the expense of the local nobility. Four years later, he enrolled as a volunteer at Kazan University at the Faculty of Mathematics, but he was able to study a little over a year, he did not have money for further education, he earned his livelihood, giving music lessons. During his studies, Balakirev Milii Alekseevich writes the first musical works: romances, plays for the piano.
Vocation
Seeing the undoubted giftedness of the young man, Ulybyshev in 1855 takes him with him to St. Petersburg, where he introduces the Russian composer M. Glinka.
Balakirev Miliy Alekseevich, music for which became the most important part of life, showed his works to the master and received a very high praise and recommendation to devote his whole life to composing music. A year later, the novice author presents his first opuses to the public, and also debuts as a pianist and conductor in the performance of his concert allegro for piano and orchestra. This performance was very favorably received by critics and the public, they began to invite Balakirev to perform in rich houses, this helped solve the financial problems of the composer, but it took a lot of time. The musician immediately declared himself as a Russian creator, national motifs became his trademark.
The path to the profession
Balakirev Miliy Alekseevich, whose work is gradually gaining popularity, has been conducting active concert activity for some time, and revolves in secular circles. But it takes him too much time and energy, and he saw his destiny in composing music and spreading innovative ideas. He reduces the number of performances, although this negatively affects his financial situation, and decides to devote himself to music and enlightenment.
Balakirev and the "Mighty Handful"
In the late 1950s, Balakirev became close to a number of musicians: A. S. Dargomyzhsky, V. V. Stasov, A. N. Serov. So a circle is formed, which will later become known as the "Mighty Handful." Like-minded people talked a lot about the fate of national music, discussed works. Over time, the most significant composers of the Russian Empire N. Rimsky-Korsakov, A. Borodin, M. Mussorgsky, Ts. Cui joined the group. Balakirev saw in each of these young people the divine light of music, helped them to develop a gift, to form their own musical style. A powerful team of authors is forming, each of which works in his own manner, but at the same time they collectively help each other to develop a single national style.
The group actively communicated with representatives of the creative intelligentsia of its time: with critics I. Turgenev, A. Grigorovich, A. Pisemsky, I. Repin. The composers established close and complex ties with P. I. Tchaikovsky, on whom the “Mighty Handful” had a strong influence. The musicians actively promoted the ideas of the nationality in art, which were the avant-garde trend for Russian culture.
By the 70s, the group broke up, but its ideas continued to live and develop. The “mighty bunch” left a significant mark in Russian music, its influence was recognized by A. Lyadov, A. Arensky, S. Lyapunov, M. Ippolitov-Ivanov, even the famous “six” Eric Satie and Jean Cocteau appeared in French musical culture, repeating the path of the "Mighty Handful".
Educational activities
Mili Alekseevich Balakirev, whose biography is forever connected with music, made a great contribution to the formation of the national school. In 1862, together with the choir conductor G. Lomakin, Balakirev created the Free Music School, which became the center of education, promotion of national art and the first place of mass music education.
The emperor supported the initiative of the musicians, so the organizers had the opportunity to develop a vibrant activity. They organized concerts of students, accepted into the educational institution all those who had the ability, but could not pay for tuition. The school taught solfeggio, musical notation and vocals. Balakirev was the director of the institution and the conductor of the concerts. In the second half of the 80s of the XIX century, the school experienced an acute shortage of finances, which led to a significant reduction in its activity. Balakirev at that time was experiencing a severe crisis, he even leaves the post of director for a while.
But in 1881 he returned to the post of director of his beloved brainchild and remained faithful to the school until the end of his life. In 1883, under the patronage of T.I. Filippov, Balakirev took up the post of managing the court singing chapel, where his organizational and pedagogical talent came in handy. He improves the teaching system in the chapel, strengthens the scientific component in the taught disciplines, invites to teach N. Rimsky-Korsakov, organizes an orchestra class, significantly improves the quality of life of students, builds a new chapel building. In 1894, he left the leadership of the chapel and retired with substantial cash security, from that time he could devote himself entirely to creativity.
Music career
Balakirev Miliy Alekseevich studied music all his life, his activity began with the writing of his first amateur romances and piano plays. The composer's activity began under the strong influence of M. Glinka, who played an important role in the life of the musician. In 1866, Glinka invited Balakirev to direct the production of the operas Ruslan and Lyudmila and Life for the Tsar in the Prague Theater. The musician showed great activity and showed his conductor talent in this work, which was a great success and contributed to strengthening the position of Balakirev in the music world.
In 1860, the composer travels along the Volga, where he collects songs of barge haulers, which he later decorates in a musical collection that made a lot of noise in Russian culture. In 1862, 1863 and 1868, he made trips to the Caucasus, impressions of which influenced the musician's work. Soon, the composer was invited to conduct the Imperial Concerts of the Russian music society, but in 1869 he was forced to leave this position.
A difficult period begins in the life of Balakirev, the composer is subjected to persecution and slander, this causes him psychological trauma, and for several years he greatly reduced his creative activity. In 1881 he returned to music, but was more involved in the management of the chapel, wrote a little, but at this time several strong, mature works appeared, for example, the symphonic poem “Tamara”.
In the late 90s, the last creative and very productive period of the composer's life began. He writes a lot of piano music, works on symphonic poems “Russia” and “In the Czech Republic”.
Creative heritage
Composer Milii Balakirev, whose years of life were devoted to the search for livelihoods, educational and pedagogical activities, left a small but significant legacy. His main works include music for King Lear, the piano fantasy Islamey, several serious adaptations by other composers, about 2 dozen romances and songs, two symphonies.
Personal life
Balakirev Miliy Alekseevich was a passionate, keen nature, placed in difficult life circumstances. All his life he was constrained by means, he was pursued by ill-wishers who slandered him, organized a campaign against the composer in the press. The financial crisis reached its greatest depth in 1872, when school concerts not only ceased to be profitable, but could not take place at all. In addition to this, the composer's father dies, and on his shoulders lies the concern for the well-being of the younger sisters. The musician is in despair, he comes to nervous exhaustion, he even thought about suicide.
In 1874, Balakirev left school and entered the Store Directorate of the Warsaw Railway as a small employee, he again began to give music lessons. He had neither the strength nor the time to maintain relations with friends, and he departs from the circle of like-minded people, does not compose music. It was the most difficult period in his life. Balakirev found a way out in religion, he became very pious and gradually began to bounce back. In 1881, when he returned to work at school, his mental state was leveled. The ups and downs of life, his enthusiasm for music did not allow Balakirev to create his own family, he lived a bachelor, passionate about creativity.
The composer lived a long and eventful life, he died on May 29, 1910 and was buried in the Tikhvin cemetery.
Interesting Biography Facts
The life of creative people is often full of ups and downs, various events, and Balakirev Miliy Alekseevich is no exception. Interesting facts make up a huge list, among them there are sad ones. So, with all the merits of the composer, not only in front of Russian culture, but also in front of all European music in any city in the world they never erected a monument to him. But one of the best music schools in Europe, if not the world, located in Moscow, proudly bears his name.
Balakirev was ill from childhood, he was often haunted by painful and persistent headaches, which drove him to despair. In one of these protracted crises, he even wanted to drop everything and go to the monastery, but, fortunately, the disease receded, and the composer remained in high life.
In essence, Balakirev owes his education to himself, he worked hard on his technique and improved himself. However, when he was offered already in his mature years to occupy the post of professor at the Moscow Conservatory, the composer refused, since he did not have an academic education.