Balakirev, Mily Alexeyevich 1837-1910.
Russian composer. He wrote orchestral and
piano music, songs, and a symphonic poem
Tamara, all imbued with the Russian national
character and spirit. He was leader of the
group known as The Five and taught its
members, Mussorgsky, Cui, Rimsky-Korsakov,
and Borodin. Balakirev was born at
Nijni-Novgorod. At St Petersburg he worked
with Mikhail Glinka, established the Free
School of Music 1862, which stressed the
national element, and was director of the
Imperial Chapel 1883-95.