The nationalist movement began as a reaction against the supremacy of German music. It was started by talented musicians who found themselves forced to compete with men like Beethoven, Wagner, and Brahms, and who, in their national treasure of melodies, dances, etc., found a potentially strong weapon. It was principally embraced by the "peripheral" European nations, for which it proved, in most cases, the first opportunity to advance to the center of the musical scene.
Nationalistic tendencies are seen in works by Glinka, Smetana, Grieg, Borodin, and Mussorgsky, among others.