so-called "Mighty Handful" (part of which was quite small) - an alliance of Russian composers who emerged in the late 50s and early 60s of the 19th century.It is also called the "New Russian school of music" or Balakirev circle.So the name caught on with a light hand the critic Vladimir Stasovand it caught on quickly, becoming a common name Union.Abroad, it was called "five".
members of the "Mighty Handful»
who was a member of the "Mighty Handful"?MA Balakirev, Borodin AP, MP Mussorgsky, Cui TS.A.and Rimsky-Korsakov NAThese talented composers sought to find new forms that could translate images of contemporary Russian and native history, as well as ways to make their music more familiar and comprehensible to the public.The epitome of this approach became Borodin's opera "Prince Igor" by Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Maid of Pskov" Mussorgsky's "Khovanshchina" and "Boris Godunov."That folk tales, epics, national history and national life becomes a source of inspiration for the symphony and vocal works by composers.
history community
Thus, the "Mighty Handful", its composition and the history of creation.In 1855, Kazan the capital coming young Mily Balakirev, performs with great success as a pianist, loved by the public, met with Vladimir Vasilievich Stasov (a famous critic, historian, art historian and archaeologist, has been linked by friendship with all major Russian artists and musicians, wasassistant, advisor and promoter of their works).A year Balakirev met with César Cui.He studied at the Military Engineering Academy, but madly in love with the music, and because so engrossed bold look and offers new acquaintance that he wrote the opera "Prisoner of the Caucasus", "The Mandarin's Son" and Scherzo for Piano.
Later "Mighty Handful" (composition: Balakirev, Stas, Cui) supplemented by the addition of Modest Mussorgsky, officer of the Guards regiment of the Transfiguration, realized that his calling - music.He goes down, engaged in music, literature, philosophy, history, and enjoys views of new friends.In the early 60-ies of the "Mighty Handful" (made at the time: Balakirev, Cui, Stasov, Mussorgsky), which was sympathetic and Dargomyzhsky, enriched with the arrival of Alexander Borodin and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.Borodin was self-taught in music, but versatile self-taught and very diligent.While still a student at the Medical-Surgical Academy, he played in various amateur ensembles cello, he wrote several chamber works.His erudition and bright talent very quickly understood and appreciated Balakirev.And Rimsky-Korsakov was already established in the music figure, a genius whose works the audience loved.
main idea of "a handful»
It lives, aspirations and interests of the Russian people became the main theme in the work of members of the circle of Balakirev."Mighty Handful" composers (their composition is not limited to five, because many famous writers of the time were familiar or friendly with "kuchkistov") is written, studied samples of folk art and folklore, weave folk songs and legends in a "serious" symphonic music and opera.Examples of such masterpieces - "The Snow Maiden", "Khovanshchina," "The Tsar's Bride", "Boris Godunov."An important element was also the eastern melodies of other peoples - Ukrainians, Georgians, Tatars, Spaniards, Czechs and others.It is "Islam," "Tamara", "Prince Igor", "The Golden Cockerel", "Scheherazade."
