Music in Soviet RussiaMusic in Soviet Russia

Classical Music in RussiaClassical Music in Russia

Classical music flourished under “proletariat rule”

In Moscow, it centered around the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire

Classical music flourished under “proletariat rule”

In Moscow, it centered around the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire

Notable ComposersNotable Composers

Igor StravinskyConsidered a revolutionary composerRiot after his ballet, The Rite of SpringGoes from richly Romantic works, to

“serialism” One of the 20th century’s best

composers

Igor StravinskyConsidered a revolutionary composerRiot after his ballet, The Rite of SpringGoes from richly Romantic works, to

“serialism” One of the 20th century’s best

composers

StravinskyStravinsky

Notable ComposersNotable Composers

Sergei ProkofievNot as opposed to the Bolsheviks as

many other composers, like Stravinsky

Obeys normal musical conventions, though he allows himself some freedoms.

Wrote multiple ballets, operas, and film scores

Sergei ProkofievNot as opposed to the Bolsheviks as

many other composers, like Stravinsky

Obeys normal musical conventions, though he allows himself some freedoms.

Wrote multiple ballets, operas, and film scores

ProkofievProkofiev

Notable ComposersNotable Composers

Dmitrii ShostakovichEarly music showed influence of Stravinsky

and ProkofievLady Macbeth of MtenskMoves from “brash humor and experimental

character” to “more introverted melancholy and nationalistic fervor” to the “defiant and bleak mood of his last period”

Soviets wanted him to be the “second Beethoven”

Dmitrii ShostakovichEarly music showed influence of Stravinsky

and ProkofievLady Macbeth of MtenskMoves from “brash humor and experimental

character” to “more introverted melancholy and nationalistic fervor” to the “defiant and bleak mood of his last period”

Soviets wanted him to be the “second Beethoven”

ShostakovichShostakovich

Early Soviet RussiaEarly Soviet Russia

Lacked both the brilliance of before the revolution and the censorship that would come later

Interested in a “Sovietization” of music and musical lifeCultural TransformationMusicians were actually major players

in “Sovietization”

Lacked both the brilliance of before the revolution and the censorship that would come later

Interested in a “Sovietization” of music and musical lifeCultural TransformationMusicians were actually major players

in “Sovietization”

“Sovietization” of Music“Sovietization” of Music

The People’s ConservatoryOpened after the 1905 RevolutionCourses in Choral Singing and

Elementary Music Theory

The People’s ConservatoryOpened after the 1905 RevolutionCourses in Choral Singing and

Elementary Music Theory

“Sovietization” of Music“Sovietization” of Music

Wanted a distinctly Soviet musical culture

Music was difficult to censor because of it’s abstraction compared to physical art forms.

Nationalize conservatories, publishing houses and theatres.

Confiscate valuable instruments from private collections and aristocrats.

Wanted a distinctly Soviet musical culture

Music was difficult to censor because of it’s abstraction compared to physical art forms.

Nationalize conservatories, publishing houses and theatres.

Confiscate valuable instruments from private collections and aristocrats.

“Sovietization” of Music“Sovietization” of Music

There was only one radio station in all of Russia.

Comintern Radio

There was only one radio station in all of Russia.

Comintern Radio

Participation of WorkersParticipation of Workers

Groups in factories or farm collectives began putting on little plays, with music written either by a member of the group or a pro.

Groups in factories or farm collectives began putting on little plays, with music written either by a member of the group or a pro.

“There was a lessening of the revolutionary militancy, a relaxation of ideological tensions, a greater permissiveness in matters of musical taste and style. Some of the new developments, however, were unforeseen: the number of music centres was reduced, the operational budgets were tightened, and the government proved less willing to subsidize unprofitable ventures.”

“There was a lessening of the revolutionary militancy, a relaxation of ideological tensions, a greater permissiveness in matters of musical taste and style. Some of the new developments, however, were unforeseen: the number of music centres was reduced, the operational budgets were tightened, and the government proved less willing to subsidize unprofitable ventures.”

Works CitedWorks Cited " Google Image Result for http://www.classical-composers.org/img/prokofiev.jpg." Google.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.classical-composers.org/img/prokofiev.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.classical-composers.org/comp/prokofie&h=333&w=234&sz=12&tbnid=imcj5BsMq4oYBM:&tbnh=266&tbnw=187&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2BProkofiev&zoom=1 (accessed December 19, 2010).

" Google Image Result for http://www.classical.net/music/images/composer/s/stravinsky.jpg." Google. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.classical.net/music/images/composer/s/stravinsky.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/stravinsky.php&h=280&w=230&sz=32&tbnid=eBiGLLLjtOv5PM:&tbnh=224&tbnw=184&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimage%2Bof%2B (accessed December 19, 2010).

" Google Image Result for http://www.manhattanstringquartet.com/images/Shostakovich_web.jpg." Google. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.manhattanstringquartet.com/images/Shostakovich_web.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.manhattanstringquartet.com/Shostakovich.htm&h=430&w=386&sz=12&tbnid=Nlf7DSCNUxa_wM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof (accessed December 19, 2010).

"Classical Music in Soviet Russia." NewsMax.com: America's News Page - News Archives. http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/11/24/85758.shtml (accessed December 18, 2010)

(accessed December 7, 2010).

" Google Image Result for http://www.classical-composers.org/img/prokofiev.jpg." Google. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.classical-composers.org/img/prokofiev.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.classical-composers.org/comp/prokofie&h=333&w=234&sz=12&tbnid=imcj5BsMq4oYBM:&tbnh=266&tbnw=187&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2BProkofiev&zoom=1 (accessed December 19, 2010).

" Google Image Result for http://www.classical.net/music/images/composer/s/stravinsky.jpg." Google. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.classical.net/music/images/composer/s/stravinsky.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/stravinsky.php&h=280&w=230&sz=32&tbnid=eBiGLLLjtOv5PM:&tbnh=224&tbnw=184&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimage%2Bof%2B (accessed December 19, 2010).

" Google Image Result for http://www.manhattanstringquartet.com/images/Shostakovich_web.jpg." Google. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.manhattanstringquartet.com/images/Shostakovich_web.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.manhattanstringquartet.com/Shostakovich.htm&h=430&w=386&sz=12&tbnid=Nlf7DSCNUxa_wM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof (accessed December 19, 2010).

"Classical Music in Soviet Russia." NewsMax.com: America's News Page - News Archives. http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/11/24/85758.shtml (accessed December 18, 2010)

(accessed December 7, 2010).

Works Cited (Cont.)Works Cited (Cont.)

Schwarz, Boris. Music and musical life in Soviet Russia, 1917-1970 . New York: W. W. Norton, 1972.

"Sergei Prokofiev - an overview of the classical composer." mfiles. www.mfiles.co.uk/composers/Sergei-Prokofiev.htm (accessed December 8, 2010).

Cowell, Henry . "Music in Soviet Russia." JSTOR: Russian Review, Vol. 1. No. 2, (April.,1942), pp. 74-79. http://www.jstor.org/stable/125204 (accessed December 7, 2010).

"Essentials of Music - Composers." Essentials of Music. http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/composer/stravinsky.html (accessed December 7, 2010).

Guide, All Music. "Dmitry Shostakovich | AllMusic." AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dmitry-shostakovich-q7974/biography (accessed December 8, 2010).

"Igor Stravinsky - Biography." HumanitiesWeb - Welcome. http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=c&p=a&a=i&ID=756 (accessed December 8, 2010).

Nelson, Amy. "Music for the Revolution: Musicians ... - Google Books." Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=Q9MsfCnep64C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Music,+Soviet,+Russia&hl=en&ei=fmX-TLzAOI-q8Aaxqdj8Bw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Schwarz, Boris. Music and musical life in Soviet Russia, 1917-1970 . New York: W. W. Norton, 1972.

"Sergei Prokofiev - an overview of the classical composer." mfiles. www.mfiles.co.uk/composers/Sergei-Prokofiev.htm (accessed December 8, 2010).

Cowell, Henry . "Music in Soviet Russia." JSTOR: Russian Review, Vol. 1. No. 2, (April.,1942), pp. 74-79. http://www.jstor.org/stable/125204 (accessed December 7, 2010).

"Essentials of Music - Composers." Essentials of Music. http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/composer/stravinsky.html (accessed December 7, 2010).

Guide, All Music. "Dmitry Shostakovich | AllMusic." AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dmitry-shostakovich-q7974/biography (accessed December 8, 2010).

"Igor Stravinsky - Biography." HumanitiesWeb - Welcome. http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=c&p=a&a=i&ID=756 (accessed December 8, 2010).

Nelson, Amy. "Music for the Revolution: Musicians ... - Google Books." Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=Q9MsfCnep64C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Music,+Soviet,+Russia&hl=en&ei=fmX-TLzAOI-q8Aaxqdj8Bw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false