GLINKA, MICHAEL IVANOVITCH, 1804-57; a Russian composer. His thorough musical education did not begin until the year 1830, when he went abroad and staid for three years in Italy, to study the works of old and modern Italian masters. His thorough knowledge of the requirements of the voice may be connected with this course of study. His training as a composer was finished under Delin, the celebrated contra puntist, with whom Glinka stayed for several months at Berlin. In 1833 he returned to Russia, and devoted himself to operatic composition. On Nov. 27,1836, took place the first representation of his Life for fits Czar. This was the turning point in Glinka's life—for the work was not only a great success, but in a manner became the origin and basis of a Russian school of national music. .Subject and music combined to bring about this issue. The story is taken from the invasion of Russia by the Poles early in the 17th c., and the hero is a peasant who sacrifices his life for the czar. Glinka has
wedded this patriotic theme to inspiring music. His melodies, moreover, show distinct affinity to the popular songs of the Russians, and for that reason the term "national" may be justly applied to them. His appointment as imperial chapel-master and conduc tor of the opera of St. Petersburg was the reward of his dramatic successes. His second opera, Russian and Lyudraila, founded on Poushkin's poem, did not appear until 1842; but in the meantime he wrote an overture and four entre amiss to Kukolnik's drama Pique Kkolmsky, In 1844, he went-abroad for a second time, and lived chiefly in Paris and Spain. On his return to St. Petersburg he wrote and arranged several pieces for the orchestra, amongst which the so-called Kamarinskaya has achieved popularity beyond the limits of Russia. He also composed numerous songs and romances. In 1857 he went abroad for the third time, and died suddenly at Berlin.