Nineteenth-century Europe's immersion into Romanticism fostered a ""back to nature"" movement in which artists turned toward folk music for inspiration. This collection spotlights the works of important Russian composers who drew upon and popularized folk melodies of their native country. Forty-four stirring pieces reflect the influence of Russia's peasant songs as well as the tonality and rhythms of music from the Russo-Greek Orthodox Church and Tartar culture. Suitable for intermediate-level pianists of all ages, this collection features contributions from Michael Glinka, hailed a century ago as ""the father of Russian musical art."" Additional contributors include Alexander Borodin, Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolas Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Scriabin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and other composers.
