Glière continued the Russian Romantic tradition in music, following the example of Glazunov. He explored the exotic in his use of material from Georgia and Central Asia, and his contribution to Soviet ballet is significant.

Ballets

The best-known of Glière’s ballet scores are The Red Poppy and The Bronze Horseman, essential and popular elements of Soviet ballet repertoire.

Orchestral Music

Glière’s orchestral compositions include three symphonies, the third based on the legend of Il’ya Muromets. In the symphonic poem The Zaporozhy Cossacks, as elsewhere, he draws on patriotic history or legend, depicted in colourful musical language.