The Mighty Handful, also known as the Mighty Five, was a group of five Russian composers in the 19th century. They included Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, César Cui, Alexander Borodin, and Mily Balakirev. This collective aimed to create a distinctly Russian style of classical music, drawing inspiration from Russian folk tunes and themes. The group opposed the Western European musical traditions that dominated Russian music at the time. They sought to develop a national identity in their compositions, emphasizing originality and cultural heritage. Their works significantly influenced the evolution of Russian classical music and inspired future generations of composers.