Mily Balakirev, in full Mily Alekseyevich Balakirev, (born December 21, 1836 , Nizhny Novgorod, Russia—died May 16 , 1910, St. Petersburg), Russian composer of orchestral music, piano music, and songs. He was a dynamic leader of the Russian nationalist group of composers of his era. Balakirev received his early musical education from his mother. He also studied with Alexander Dubuque and with Karl Eisrich, music director to A.D. Ulibishev, a wealthy landowner who published well-known books on Mozart and Beethoven. Balakirev had the use of Ulibishev’s music library and at age 15 bega…
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