The name Mili Balakirev is closely associated with a group of Russian composers whom Vladimir Stasov once referred to as the "Mighty Handful." Due to his profound musical training, Balakirev was considered the leading figure of this circle. During the 1860s, while working as a teacher, he mentored not only Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Mussorgsky, and Cui, but also figures such as Tchaikovsky. As the only professional pianist in this group, he decided against a career as a concert pianist after a few early performances.
His most famous composition for solo piano, the Oriental Fantasy "Islamei," was written in 1869 during an early period of his career. Following a nervous breakdown, Balakirev temporarily withdrew from the music world and worked as a railway official. Besides "Islamei," he created numerous technically demanding and impressive works, including adaptations and arrangements, with his only completed sonata representing the pinnacle of this period.
With great effort, Balakirev attempted to eliminate German influences from his four-movement sonata cycle. He began with an unconventional, fugal exposition that combined folk themes with an elegant descent. The combination of fugue and rhapsody, which Balakirev shaped in an unusual way, was particularly fascinating. A mazurka was followed by an ornament-rich, harmonically rich episode that led into the famous Inferno Sonata. This was followed by a slow movement full of subtle allusions and a powerful, concluding finale.
Yuli Kremlyov emphasized Balakirev's virtuosic technique and finger dexterity, reminiscent of a master engraver. Balakirev's style, in addition to showing influences from Chopin and Liszt, also displays elements of monumental grandeur, such as those found in Anton Rubinstein. His mazurkas and waltzes bear both folkloric characteristics and the unmistakable mark of Chopin. His veneration for Chopin is particularly evident in his scherzos and polkas. The nocturnes follow Chopin's example, while the mazurkas and polkas are inspired by folklore and charmingly demonstrate Balakirev's versatile compositional output. As a composer, Balakirev combined various stylistic influences into a unique and rich musical language.