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Selected Piano Pieces Vol.1: Piano (Solo)

$20.95 USD
$20.95 USD
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Selected Piano Pieces Vol.1 Cover Image
Selected Piano Pieces Vol.1: Piano (Solo)

Selected Piano Pieces Vol.1: Piano (Solo)

By Mily Balakirev / ed. Christof Rüger

Item: 98-EP9576A
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Description
Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev's Selected Piano Pieces (Vol. 1) for solo piano. Includes Mazurkas Nos.1-3, Waltzes Nos.4, 6 and Toccata.

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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 1
ISBN10: 0-01-407754-X
ISBN13: 979-0-0140-7754-9
SKU: 98-EP9576A

More about this title

About the Composer: Mily Balakirev

Mily Balakirev (1837, 1910) was a Russian composer and pianist who shaped the nationalist school of Russian music alongside The Five. Though he composed relatively little for solo piano compared to his orchestral works, his keyboard writing reveals a virtuoso's understanding of the instrument's capabilities and a gift for Russian melodic idiom. His pieces balance technical demands with deeply lyrical passages, making them rewarding for pianists seeking substance beyond mere display.

Why we love this

Balakirev's smaller forms offer serious pianists access to his musical voice without the time commitment of his larger works. The collection spans character pieces that demand interpretive maturity: the mazurkas breathe with Russian salon elegance, the waltzes have genuine sweep, and the toccata showcases genuine keyboard fireworks. Students encounter a composer who values melody and national color without sacrificing musical substance.

What to expect

These pieces inhabit a graceful, sometimes wistful emotional space. There's aristocratic refinement in the waltzes, introspection in the mazurkas, and controlled brilliance in the toccata. The harmonic palette leans toward chromatic color and unexpected modulations that feel both natural and slightly unsettling.

Who it's for

Advanced secondary students and college pianists ready to explore Russian Romantic literature beyond the standard canon. Teachers seeking accessible entry points to nationalist composition for students interested in 19th-century history and style.

How to get the most out of it

  • Treat the mazurkas as intimate conversation rather than dance music; Balakirev's rubato lies in the phrasing, not the tempo.
  • Balance the toccata's rhythmic drive with clarity in the passagework; these notes need air between them.
  • Listen closely to the harmonic language in the waltzes. Balakirev's chromaticism can blur measures if you're not anchoring the underlying tonal center.
  • The Edition Peters edition often includes fingerings that reflect a Romantic-era hand position; feel free to adjust for modern technique while preserving the voice leading.

How to use it

A single mazurka or waltz works beautifully on a student recital or competition program, offering variety alongside more familiar Romantic repertoire. For a concert exploring 19th-century Russian music, pair these pieces with orchestral transcriptions or chamber works to contextualize Balakirev's compositional voice.

Skills your students will build

  • Romantic-era rubato and phrasing in dance forms
  • Chromatic harmony navigation and tonal awareness
  • Right-hand passagework clarity and even articulation
  • Interpretive maturity in balancing technical display with musical line
  • Familiarity with Russian musical idiom and nationalist composition

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