In the late nineteenth century, a growing schism––nurtured by contrasting philosophies and compositional approaches––divided Russian music into two separate factions. Mily Balakirev led many gifted St. Petersburg composers to a deliberate immersion in Russian folk and ethnic influences, while Tchaikovsky's presence helped inspire Moscow musicians, such as Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, to become more consciously Western in their ideals and training. This course examines the most significant compositions of the St. Petersburg "Five," induding masterworks by Mussorgsky, Borodin, and Rimsky-Korsakov. Their works will be contrasted with a selective analysis of the music ofAlexander Scriabin, the Moscow-trained composer who is sometimes called "The Russian Chopin." These sessions, which presume no special familiarity with musical concepts, will include recorded examples and live performances at the piano.