Music of Russia

Music of Russia

Russian Federation

Overview

• Largest country in world (spans Europe and Asia)

• Demographics: 80% ethnic Russian

• Religion: Eastern Orthodoxy (establ. 988) is predominant

• 1861-abolition of serfdom

• 1917-coup ended 300 years of monarchy

• 1922- Soviet Union formed (White Army defeated)

• 1991-dissolution of Soviet Union

Music of the Peasants• Feudal social system:

serfs considered property of landowner, obliged to give percentage of crop to landowner

• Layering of Christian traditions and rituals over older pagan beliefs

• Lives governed by family and agricultural cycles

1909 Peasant Girls (Prokudin-Gorskii)

Peasant Music

• Songs and music were integral to village life

• Types of songs: 1. calendar songs (e.g. pre-Lenten songs,

seasonal festivals, harvest songs2. rite of passage songs (esp. wedding songs

and dances)3. Work songs (e.g. harvesting, haymaking)

Music of the Cossacks• Militaristic communities,

renowned for self-reliance and horsemanship

• Allegiances: religion and motherland

• Group singing is heterophonic, melody is middle voice

• Songs often historical epics

The Russian Folk Orchestra

• Originated in 19th cent. Elite interest in “national character”.

Vasiliy Vasilievich Andreyev (1861-1918)

• “Father” of the Russian Folk Orchestra

• Adapted and arranged folk music for the salon and stage

• Composed new pieces

Russian Folk Orchestra

• Appropriated, controlled, used by Soviets as state-supported “new folk music.”

• Establishment of conservatories for study of “folk instruments” (i.e. balalaika, domra, bayan); composition, conducting

• Post-Soviet period, “Russian Folk Music” conservatories and ensembles still exist.

InstrumentsBALALAIKA

BAYAN

DOMRA

GUSLI

The Slavonic Bass• Feodor Chaliapin (Russian)

(1873-1938). Considered one of greatest opera singers; debuted with Met in 1907; lived in exile since 1921.

• Boris Christoff (Bulgarian) (1914-1993). Sang as boy in church choir; famous for opera; religious music; Russian songs.