Page 206 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

204 INTRODUCTION

Bed rˇich Smetana Russian composer Gabriel Fauré’s Antonín Dvo rˇák’s
establishes Czech opera Modest Mussorgsky Requiem introduces Symphony No. 9,
with The Bartered Bride, writes Pictures at an a new, more subtle inspired by Native
incorporating Czech Exhibition, inspired by the style to the form, American music and
themes and written in death of the Russian artist inspiring other African American
the Czech language. Viktor Hartmann. French composers. songs, premieres.

1863 1874 1887–1890 1893

1869 1875 1890

Mily Balakirev In Norway, Edvard One of Russia’s “Five,”
establishes the “Five,” Grieg completes the Aleksandr Borodin
a group of Russian music for Henrik Ibsen’s adapts the 12th-century
composers who sought Peer Gynt. Based on a epic prose poem The Lay
to create music with a folk tale, the work of Igor’s Host to develop
Russian identity. becomes a national epic. his opera Prince Igor.

s the 19th century Nationalism in music did not Russian composers who became
progressed, a growing confine itself to subject matter. known as the “Five” or “Mighty
A mood of nationalism Composers incorporated folk songs Handful” (Aleksandr Borodin,
developed, and people sought and dances into their music or César Cui, Modest Mussorgsky,
individual identities as nations composed their own melodies and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov),
distinct from the old empires. The using elements of a particular whose work later influenced Pyotr
dominant culture in Europe was tradition of folk music, such as Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Alexander
Germanic, and this was especially its scales and rhythms. Glazunov, and, in the 20th century,
true of the music being written for Sergei Rachmaninoff.
the concert halls and opera houses. Russia leads The wave of nationalism gained
A tradition of folk music thrived The first signs of nationalism momentum in the mid-19th century,
almost everywhere, as regional and in music came from Russia, especially as the Austro-Hungarian
local cultures of the many different which had started to assert its Empire crumbled. Countries were
people asserted themselves. It was independence from European proud of their own folk culture, and
this that provided the inspiration culture at the beginning of the especially their music. Chopin
for composers wishing to establish Romantic period. Mikhail Glinka’s tinged much of his piano music
a musical identity that matched the operas were based on Russian with inflections of folk melodies
nationalistic ideals of their people. stories, with Russian folk tunes from his native Poland, and wrote
Opera was an obvious starting presented in the Romantic style, several polonaises, while Liszt
point, as it could be based on inspiring more than a century of incorporated Hungarian dance
national history and legends, but distinctively Russian music. Quick styles into his work. More overtly
the same ideas were also expressed to take up the baton, Mily Balakirev nationalistic was Bedrˇich Smetana,
in programmatic orchestral works. gathered together a group of who became a champion of Czech

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