military music traditions in russia

8/3/2019 Military Music Traditions in Russia

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Military music traditions in Russia

"My troops had two enemies in the Russian campaign: the frosts and Russian military

music"

Napoleon Bonaparte

The military music of Russia was formed in the Moscow province in 1547 and remains

the tuning fork of the Russian soldier.

Created in the army and for the army, Russian military music became a unique

phenomenon in the music culture of Russia. Works written for the military brass bands

reflect the heroic history of the Russian people and the high level of artistic culture.

History of the military music in Russia

Military music appeared in Russia in the ancient times. But it was not before 1547 when

Ivan IV created the special Order of the Big Palace to manage the Russian military music.

Peter I attributed a lot of importance to military music as a means of enhancing the

discipline and the morale of the army. The first military bands appeared with the first

Russian regiments Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky. These bands were playing duringthe victory parades after the Northern war. March of the Preobrazhensky regiment even

became, after a while, the unofficial hymn of the Russian Empire.

During the reign of Elizaveta Petrovna, the regiments that had distinguished themselves

in action were given, apart from the medals and banners, silver trumpets of St George

that symbolized glory and military valor. This tradition became firmly(vng chc) rootedin the Russian army.

During the reign of Ekaterina II, the staff of regiment bands was increased. The military,

patriotic, social and cultural importance of the military music especially increased duringthe Russian-Turkish wars.

Alexander Suvorov, the prominent Russian military commander, said the famous phrase:Music doubles and triplicates the army. I seized(chim) the Ismail fortress with unfoldedbanners and loud music.

Development of music in early 19th century was mostly defined by the Great PatrioticWar of 1812-1814. The military marches that were sounding during the fights became the

symbols of the courage of the Russian army. The patriotic impulse and increasing sense

of national identity due to the liberation war against Napoleon were brightly manifestedin military music. A variety of heroic and patriotic music works appeared, such as the

marches of Kozlovsky, Titov, Kavos, Antonolini, Derfeld and others.

During the second quarter of the 19th century, the music of Dargomyzhsky, Glinka,


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Alyabyev and some others reached full blossom It was then that the first steps towards

creating original music works for brass bands were made. A famous phrase of those times

has remained: The military band is the visit card of the regiment.

N.A.Rimsky-Korsakov, inspector of the military music chores of the Navy, influenced

the development of military band music. Transformations that he was introducing in themilitary bands in the fleet and organization of training were a great example for imitation

during similar reforms in the army.

In the second half of 19th century, use of military music in the fights was limited due to

more dense fire and maneuverability of the army after the technique and armament

became more advanced.

The first military band in Russia appeared in 1882 in Saint-Petersburg and was

responsible for not only playing at military ceremonies but also participating in official

state ceremonies. The musicians of the band played in palaces both during the receptions

of foreign ambassadors and at the events with the highest presence.

During the Russian-Japanese war and the First World War, military bands activelyparticipated in military operations. Many Russian military musicians perished in battles

and the distinguished military units were often awarded silver trumpets of St George.

During the peaceful days, the bands participated in army training, in the numerous

parades and played music for military ceremonies.

The post-revolutionary years of the 20th century were the time of a spontaneous( t pht)surge(s dy ln) of military bands that were mostly unable to carry out what they werein charge of. A Military Band Bureau of the Red Army and the Navy was created in 1919

for centralized management of the military bands.

It was then that the Kremlin Music Team of the Moscow Kremlin garrison was created,

that eventually became a professional group, the Presidents Band of Russia.

Increased staff of the Red Army in 1930ies formed the need in more military musicians.

That is why the network of military colleges increased significantly in those times,

including the foundation of the Military Department of the Moscow State Conservatory.

It was also then that military bands were invited to work on the radio, make records andmusic for movies.

During the Great Patriotic War, military bands made concerts on the radio and at thefront, raising the morale of the soldiers. Their repertories, based on marches, mostly

consisted of the works of Russian composers and folk music.

In the post-war years, brass music and popular songs were on the forestage of the Russian

culture.

A lot of new military ceremonies appeared and the everyday performance practice of the

bands was broadened, covering the music for solemn ceremonies and parades, training of


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the troops, maneuvers(din tp) and parades.Competitions, holidays and military music festivals became a tradition.

Starting from 1960ies, army bands and navy bands of Russia became permanent

participants of international brass music festivals and began touring foreign countries.

Due to a high level of performing and an artistic potential, military musicians played an

important role in developing the Russian musical art.

In the contemporary times, military bands play at military ceremonies and actively

participate in all the important social events, engage in concerts and educational

activities.

Since 2005, upon the initiative of the Presidents Band of Russia, performances of brass

bands take place at the Alexandrovsky garden cavern in summer. This initiative was

supported by the Moscow Government and a lot of public culture organizations, so nowalmost all the military music groups known in Moscow perform at the Alexandrovsky

garden cavern.

The possibility to freely form the repertory allowed the military bandmasters create

popular music groups on the basis of the bands and successfully cooperate with

composers of brass music.

Currently, the military bands, being the culture beams, preserve and multiply the glorious

traditions of Russian military music.

Based on materials of Russian military music, Voenizdat, 2007, Moscow

military music traditions in russia

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