Russian MusicRussian Music

ShaDe, Tanairy, LissetteShaDe, Tanairy, Lissette

1818thth and 19 and 19thth Century Century

Background Background

Russia was a late starter in the Russia was a late starter in the development of a native tradition in development of a native tradition in classical musicclassical music

Ivan IV hired composers and musicians to Ivan IV hired composers and musicians to fill this voidfill this void

European music was seen as a mark of European music was seen as a mark of civilization and a way of Westernizing the civilization and a way of Westernizing the countrycountry

Many people weren’t aware that Russian Many people weren’t aware that Russian composers existedcomposers existed

NationalismNationalism

Russian composers had to write in Russian composers had to write in Western style if they wanted recognitionWestern style if they wanted recognition

Russian music wasn’t unique to the Russian music wasn’t unique to the country because “Russian” composers country because “Russian” composers traveled abroad, usually to Italy, to traintraveled abroad, usually to Italy, to train

Composers such as Dmitri Bortniansky, Composers such as Dmitri Bortniansky, Maksim Berezovsky, and Artem Vedel Maksim Berezovsky, and Artem Vedel traveled abroadtraveled abroad. .

Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857)Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857)

First great Russian composer to use First great Russian composer to use native Russian music traditionsnative Russian music traditions

Composed Composed Ivan Susanin Ivan Susanin and and Ruslan Ruslan and Lyudmilaand Lyudmila

His compositions gained fame by His compositions gained fame by relying on distinctively Russian tunes relying on distinctively Russian tunes and themesand themes

Russian Folk MusicRussian Folk Music

Primary source for younger generation composersPrimary source for younger generation composers A group called the “Mighty Five” proclaimed its A group called the “Mighty Five” proclaimed its

purpose to compose and popularize Russian purpose to compose and popularize Russian national traditions in classical musicnational traditions in classical music

The Mighty Five’s most notable compositions The Mighty Five’s most notable compositions included included The Snow Maiden, Sadko, Boris Godunov, The Snow Maiden, Sadko, Boris Godunov, Prince Igor, Prince Igor, and and Scheherazade. Scheherazade.

Many of the works by Glinka and the Mighty Five Many of the works by Glinka and the Mighty Five were based on Russian history, folk tales, and were based on Russian history, folk tales, and literature.literature.

Regarded as masterpieces of romantic nationalism Regarded as masterpieces of romantic nationalism in musicin music

Russian Musical Society Russian Musical Society (RMS)(RMS)

Founded in 1859Founded in 1859Led by composer-pianists Anton and Led by composer-pianists Anton and

Nikolay RubinsteinNikolay RubinsteinThe RMS’s rival was the Mighty Five The RMS’s rival was the Mighty Five

because the RMS was musically more because the RMS was musically more conservativeconservative

Founded Russia’s first Conservatories Founded Russia’s first Conservatories in St. Petersburg and Moscowin St. Petersburg and Moscow

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)1893)

Trained by the RMSTrained by the RMSBest known for his ballets like Best known for his ballets like Swan Swan

Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and and The The NutcrackerNutcracker

He remains Russia’s best known He remains Russia’s best known composer outside Russiacomposer outside Russia

Late 19Late 19thth to Early 20 to Early 20thth CenturiesCenturies

Saw the third wave of Russian classics: Saw the third wave of Russian classics: Igor Stravinsky, Alexander Scriabin, Sergei Igor Stravinsky, Alexander Scriabin, Sergei Prokofiev, and Dmitri Shostakovich.Prokofiev, and Dmitri Shostakovich.

These composers were experimental in These composers were experimental in style and musical languagestyle and musical language

The so-called “romance songs” became The so-called “romance songs” became very popularvery popular

The greatest and most popular singers of The greatest and most popular singers of this time sang in operasthis time sang in operas

Singers usually composed music and Singers usually composed music and wrote the lyricswrote the lyrics