Musical Offerings, Fall 2019

Musical Offerings ⦁ 2019 ⦁ Volume 10 ⦁ Number 2 49 Musical Offerings 10, no. 2 (2019): 49–60 ISSN 2330-8206 (print); ISSN 2167-3799 (online) © 2019, Austin M. Doub, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ) Understanding Cultural and Nationalistic Impacts of the moguchaya kuchka Austin M. Doub Cedarville University nderstanding the historical, social, and cultural background of Russia during the mid-nineteenth century provides valuable insight into the growth and development of nationalism in the arts. The musical compositions of the so-called moguchaya kuchka (Mighty Five) directly opposed the growing westernization within the Russian Empire and supported Official Nationalism by the incorporation of traditional folklore, local village traditions, and promotion of their Tsar as a supreme political leader. In particular, the works of composers Balakirev, Cui, and Mussorgsky established cultural pride and contributed to Russian nationalism. Through studying the works and cultural context of these three influential composers, one can gain both a better understanding of the essence of Russian Official Nationalism in the nineteenth century and an enriched appreciation for the prevalent Russian musical styles and compositional techniques that were employed to achieve a unique “Russian” sound. Understanding the Russian Landscape and Official Nationalism Rooted in a rich Eastern Slavic heritage, Russia as a country has progressed for centuries despite frequent political and social unrest. Throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Russia rapidly developed in economy, politics, and industry. Emerging from medieval Muscovy into a forceful modern power, Russia thrived under the influential leadership of Peter the Great. 1 As Tsar, Peter the Great served as a clever diplomat whose focus on modernizing Russia 1 Benedict Humphrey Sumner, Peter the Great and the Emergence of Russia (London: English University Press, 1950), 2. U