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Mily Balakirev Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Composer Mily Balakirev, who also served as the coordinator of the group of composers known as the “Mighty Handful” or “The Five,” sought to create nationally inspired art music in the late 19th century.

He is also known for founding the Free School of Music in 1862 and, in 1869, for serving as director of the Imperial Chapel and as a conductor of the Imperial Musical Society.

Today, we’re introducing a ranking of Mily Balakirev’s most popular pieces—be sure to check out these approachable works that reflect the influence of Russian folk music.

Playlist

Mily Balakirev Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Oriental Fantasy: IslameyMily Balakirev
Oriental Fantasy: IslameyMily Balakirevplay_arrow
A difficult piece by Balakirev with an Oriental atmosphere.
2IslameyMily Balakirev
IslameyMily Balakirevplay_arrow
It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s always mentioned as one of the most difficult piano pieces.
3Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 84Mily Balakirev
Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 84Mily Balakirevplay_arrow
Balakirev's Ethnic Scherzo
4Sonatina “Sketch” in G majorMily Balakirev
Sonatina “Sketch” in G majorMily Balakirevplay_arrow
The Appeal of Balakirev’s Posthumous Sonatina
5tarantellaMily Balakirev
tarantellaMily Balakirevplay_arrow
A representative piano piece by Mily Balakirev, a composer of the Russian Five
6Toccata in C-sharp minorMily Balakirev
Toccata in C-sharp minorMily Balakirevplay_arrow
Balakirev’s Romantic virtuoso piece
7DumkaMily Balakirev
DumkaMily Balakirevplay_arrow
A Listening Guide to Balakirev’s Dumka
8Nocturne No. 3 in D minorMily Balakirev
Nocturne No. 3 in D minorMily Balakirevplay_arrow
Balakirev’s Nocturne: a fusion of emotion and technique
9Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1Mily Balakirev
Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1Mily Balakirevplay_arrow
Balakirev, as the leader of The Five, advanced the nationalist school in Russia.
10PolkaMily Balakirev
PolkaMily Balakirevplay_arrow
Balakirev’s early work Polka, where folk elements and virtuosity merge
11Mazurka No. 2 in C-sharp minorMily Balakirev
Mazurka No. 2 in C-sharp minorMily Balakirevplay_arrow
Balakirev promoted Russian folk music.
12Waltz No. 6 in F-sharp minorMily Balakirev
Waltz No. 6 in F-sharp minorMily Balakirevplay_arrow
An emotionally rich waltz by Balakirev
13Along the Volga RiverMily Balakirev
Along the Volga RiverMily Balakirevplay_arrow
A boat-hauling work song arranged from a Russian folk song
14In the Garden (A Bucolic Etude)Mily Balakirev
In the Garden (A Bucolic Etude)Mily Balakirevplay_arrow
Introduction to the Appeal of Balakirev’s Masterpiece “In the Garden”