Hey Kids, Meet Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Russian Romantic Era Composer
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 Pictures at an Exhibition that has taken its place in the standard orchestra repertory.
Scheherezade (Theme) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 3
Flight of the Bumblebee for Easy Flute Solo by Rimsky-Korsakov
Flight of the Bumblebee for Easy Clarinet Solo by Rimsky-Korsakov
Flight of the Bumblebee for Easy Trumpet Solo by Rimsky-Korsakov
Flight of the Bumblebee for Easy Violin Solo by Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov | Word Search Worksheet
Meet the Composer Job Application Worksheet
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov | Homeschool Music Lesson Plans
Ask students review questions about Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and his music during breaks in game play.
Materials: Recording of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee