Balakirev’s Piano Works: Gemlike Masterpieces Left by the Coordinator of The Five
The “Mighty Handful,” who championed nationalism and produced many masterpieces in the Russian music world of the late 19th century.
Mily Balakirev, the group’s coordinator, left approachable works that, while influenced by his ideals—Chopin, Schumann, and Liszt—also incorporate elements of Russian folk music.
In this article, we carefully select from Balakirev’s works those performed as solo piano pieces or in ensembles that include piano!
And yes—the piece famed for being among the most difficult in the world makes an appearance… Enjoy to the very end.
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[Balakirev’s Piano Works] Gem-like Masterpieces Left by the Coordinator of the Mighty Handful (11–20)
Sonatina “Sketch” in G majorMily Balakirev
In the late 19th century, Mily Balakirev stood as one of Russia’s leading national school composers.
As the guiding figure of “The Five,” he led his contemporaries and made major contributions to the development of Russian music.
His final work, the Sonatina “Sketch” in G major, is a three-movement piece that showcases Balakirev’s hallmark delicacy and vivid coloristic expression.
Its distinctive style—fusing folk-inspired melodies with European musical currents—captivates listeners and won’t let go.
While the piece demands advanced technique and expressive nuance from the performer, its high musical artistry continues to fascinate many pianists today.
It is a masterpiece that every lover of classical music should hear.
In conclusion
Balakirev’s music, while nationalistic in style, also conveys elements of the Romantic music he held as an ideal. Although the extraordinarily difficult Islamey tends to attract the most attention, he also wrote many pieces that are easier to approach. Why not immerse yourself in Balakirev’s world by first performing some friendly, accessible pieces you can tackle with ease?