Nicholas Walker, the pianist on this album, is known for championing the neglected works of Mili Alekseyevich Balakirev, having organized Balakirev Centenary concerts in London in 2010.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Balakirev adopted Mikhail Glinka's principle that 'the people produce music, we artists only arrange it,' leading to his lifelong devotion to folk music.
Composition History
Balakirev's Polka in F sharp minor was his first published work in 1859.
Compositional Technique
Islamey (Fantasie Orientale) is based on two themes: a vigorous 'Islamey' dance and a soulful Armenian melody, evoking the region's ethnic and cultural blend.
Interpretation
Pianist Nicholas Walker completed two bars missing from Balakirev's manuscript for Elegy on the Death of a Mosquito and completed La Danse de sorcières, which tantalizingly stopped after two pages.
Recording & Production
This album includes world première recordings of several pieces, such as Nicholas Walker's arrangement of Tamara and his completions of Elegy on the Death of a Mosquito and La Danse de sorcières.
Composer Biography
Mili Balakirev, a brilliant pianist, conductor, and selfless champion of other composers, is surprisingly little known today despite leading the Russian 'Mighty Handful'.
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