The Five (Mighty Handful)

The Five (The Mighty Handful) refers to a group of five innovative Russian composers—Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Borodin, and Cui—active in the late 19th century, who collaborated to develop a distinct national style of classical music. They aimed to incorporate Russian themes, folk melodies, and colors into their compositions, moving away from Western European traditions. Their work profoundly influenced the future of Russian music and project a sense of national pride. Collectively, they are celebrated for their originality and for shaping Russia's rich musical heritage.