Represented here by music is the larger struggle of Russian identity, something shapeless and indistinct. The Mighty Handful were attempting to create specifically Russian music, not to excel in the styles learned and borrowed from Europe.

Using classical instrumentation to create a new kind of sound is representative of Russia’s unique position; not belonging fully to Europe or Asia, and without many strong, deeply-rooted cultural traditions or identity, they had the chance to create and shape a unique identity for themselves. Without these established traditions, the composers could be more creative in deciding what “Russian” classical music would sound like.

This seems to be a step away from the inferiority complex Russia sometimes seemed to have in the past, regarding Europe; there is a patriotism in the decision to consciously forge a new style of music based on their homeland. Pieces like “Russia” and “Baba Yaga” intentionally glorify their homeland and its stories. (I’m not enough of a music scholar to seize all these stylistic differences from the typical European classical conventions. But I can recognize the brilliance and beauty of the compositions we listened to; so these works are a successful attempt to establish something uniquely Russian, or at least more so than previous compositions.)