|Hey Kids, Meet Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
from the Hey Kid's, Meet the Composer Index
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Russian Romantic Era Composer
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Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was born in 1844 in Tikhvin, a village east of St. Petersburg, Russia. Though Nikolai showed a talent for music at an early age, he pursued an education at the School for Mathematical and Navigational Sciences in St. Petersburg and later joined the Imperial Russian Navy. It was not until he met Mily Balakirev in 1861 that he decided to concentrate on developing his musical skills. When Rimsky-Korsakov was not at sea, Balakirev encouraged and taught him how to compose music. It also was through Balakirev that Rimsky-Korsakov met four other composers who later became known as the The Five.
In 1871, Rimsky-Korsakov took a post as the professor of composition and orchestration at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. During his first few years as a teacher at the Conservatory he also concentrated on developing his own skills as a composer.
In 1872, Rimsky-Korsakov married Nadezhda Nikolayevna Purgold (1848-1919), a pianist and composer. Modest Mussorgsky, another famous composer, was his best man at their wedding.
Rimsky-Korsakov died in 1908, having written some of our most celebrated music. His works include Flight of the Bumblebee from Tsar Saltan and the symphonic suite Scheherazade. He is also recognized for his talents as an orchestrator. It is his version of Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain that has taken its place in the standard orchestra repertory.
Free Sheet Music
Scheherezade (Theme) for Piano Solo by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
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Learn about Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov with a free printable worksheet.
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Free Lesson Plans
Homeschool Music Lesson Plans for Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Music Classroom Game
Ask half of the children to stand in a circle facing into the center. This group will be the hive. The other half of the class are the bumblebees. When the music starts the bumblebees run in and out of the hive. When the music stops the hive members take the hands of the other hive members, trapping bumblebees inside the hive. These trapped bumblebees now become members of the hive. Repeat the process until only one bumblebee remains. This bumblebee is the winner of the game.
During breaks in game play, the children can be asked about the things they learned about Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov or his music.
Materials: Recording of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee
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