Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (March 18, 1844 - June 21, 1908)
Rimsky-Korsakov is probably the most highly noted composer of The Five. Just like all the other members he started as a nationalistic Russian Romantic composer. What makes Rimsky-Korsakov unique though is the fact he stepped outside the ideals of The Five and eventually received professional training in composition. Plus, he borrowed ideas from composers not favored by other members of The Five. Unlike many successful composers and musicians, Rimsky-Korsakov did not start out well. He began piano lessons with various local teachers when he was six, and although his aural skills were good teachers commented on how his playing could be described as careless and very bad at keeping time. At age 10 he began composing, but even then he was said to have a higher interest in literature than music; as he enjoyed reading tales about the sea.
At age 12 his love of the sea, and prompting from his older brother, caused him to join the Imperial Russian Navy and attend school at St. Petersburg for math and navagation. While at school he continued to take lessons and while he wrote that he was still indifferent to the lessons, but he had a found a great love for music. Over the next few years he became much better at the piano, and after he turned 18 he was introduced to the Russian composer, Balakirev.
Balakirev started by introducing Rimsky-Korsakov to composers that would later make up The Five, such as Mussorgsky and Cui. Whenever Rimsky-Korsakov wasn't at sea Balakirev would take the time to teach him about the fundamentals of composing.
At first, while at sea, he spent much of his time working on his first symphony after the prompting of Balakirev, despite the lack of formal training yet. As time went on though the young composer lost some of his passion for composing, as there was little outside musical stimuli driving his attention toward it. And although he neglected his lessons and didn't compose as much during this time; he was being exposed to great literature - such as Homer, and experienced natural wonders - such as Niagara Falls.
Upon his return to St. Petersburg, Rimsky-Korsakov got back in contact with Balakirev and continued to work his first symphony. After re-orchestrating it, and some "heavy editing" done by Balakirev, his Symphony No. 1 in E Minor was complete and conducted by Balakirev in 1865.
Rimsky-Korsakov had no problem fitting in with the other members of The Five, and he was quite valued for skills in orchestrating. Among a handful of occasion, a couple are Cui asked him to orchestrate the opening chorus for William Ratcliff, and Dargomyzhsky asked him to orchestrate The Stone Guest towards his death.
Throughout his time in The Five the composers that Rimsky-Korsakov seemed to connect with the most were Borodin -who he said his music "astonished" him- and Mussorgsky. Later, Rimsky-Korsakov and Mussorgsky moved into an apartment together and worked in a way where they exchanged work and composing during the day, as to not get in the way of the other; then at night they met and exchanged ideas. This was a very efficient time for both of them as Mussorgsky finished "Near Kromy" and the "Polish Acts" of Boris Godunov, and Rimsky-Korsakov orchestrated and finished the Maid of Pskov.
In 1871, at the age of 27, Rimsky-Korsakov became the Professor of Practical Composition and Instrumentation (orchestration) and the leader of the orchestra at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. The reasons behind why they choose him aren't known for sure, but Rimsky-Korsakov alludes later to the hunch that the conservatory wanted to show they'd allow all serious musicians in, even members of The Five, and Rimsky-Korsakov was the least criticized member by their opponents. Also opposing composers saw potential in Rimsky-Korsakov and thought this would be a good way to put him in a formal educated, Western-style environment -which Balakirev was fiercely against.
When Rimsky-Korsakov started his position he was famous as an orchestrator, but this was just from intuition. He did not know any chord names, had never written in counterpoint, and couldn't harmonize a simple chorale. Another challenge that faced him was the fact he was the leader of the orchestra class and he had never conducted before. This was because the Navy was against him being on the podium in uniform, and they had to wear the uniform at all times to show always being on duty.
For a solution to all these problems Rimsky-Korsakov got in contact with Tchaikovsky, who The Five had once been in some contact with a little. Unlike members of The Five, Tchaikovsky had been formally trained at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and now taught Music Theory at the Moscow Conservatory. The only advice he had for him though was to study. So Rimsky-Korsakov took upon himself to not only be a great teacher, but to the best pupil at the conservatory. He notes that for three years he took time away from composing and would find himself reading the books late into the night so he'd stay ahead of his classes.
Eventually Rimsky-Korsakov became a tremendous teacher and firm believer in formal, academic training in composing. After acquiring a better knowledge of theory he went back and revised many of his works, even the already renowned Sadko and Antar. Being conductor of of the orchestra class did wonders for his composing as well. He mastered the art of conducting and wrote many small pieces for the orchestra class, which deepened his interest in orchestrating. After taking his three year absence from composing he wrote his Symphony No. 3 and his time hands-on with the orchestra really showed.
Due to the vast amount of information about this composer I've broken this biography into two parts, here's the link to continue... Part II
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The Five -
Rimsky-Korsakov: Part I - II
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