ABSTRACT
Half a century ago a shy youth of sixteen brought an orchestral score to his famous teacher, and, diffidently moving unyielding fingers across the keyboard, presented a pianistic equivalent of the Symphony of his imagination. This episode was lovingly noted by Rimsky-Korsakov-the teacher-in his “Musical Life.” Alexander Constantinovich Glazunov-the pupil-was instantly accepted as the legitimate heir to the rare treasure of the Russian National School created by five non-professionals: a naval officer, RimskyKorsakov; an ensign of the guards; Musorgsky, a professor of chemistry, Borodin; an expert in fortification, Cui; and a broad-minded amphitryon, Balakirev.
