Folk music and nationalistic melodies may reign supreme in Russia. The harmonies are unique to the country. Perhaps because the Russians are such passionate people, the emotions reflected in Russian music fluctuate and dance like flickering flames between major and minor keys.
Early Russian Folk Music Under the Czars
Before the Russian Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, there was a tremendous class difference between the Czarist nobility and the Russian peasant class. Every event in the Russian peasant's life, from birth to death, his job, his oppression, his joys and sorrows, was reflected in Russian folk music. The Russian Orthodox Church, which was the primary religious denomination in Russia before the onset of Soviet communism, influenced the country's folk music as well. Besides the Russian Orthodox Church, folk music was also influenced by the music of a large Orthodox Jewish population.
The churches during Czarist Russia did not allow musical instruments. As a result, many Russians cultivated gorgeous singing voices. While some may suggest that the deep bass voices that many Russian men have is genetic, others may maintain that these voices are a natural result of the types of music that is common in Russia. The church music of the Russian Orthodox Church has a mystical element to it which dates back to the ancient Byzantine empire.
Struggle Reflected in the Folk Songs of Russia
Most Russian folk songs are written in a minor key. This music may reflect the oppression and toil that Russians have had to endure for centuries. In some ways, the old Russian folk melodies also reflect the isolation from the rest of the world. The earliest tunes tell of giants living in the land. Folk songs were often long and drawn out. This was especially true of soldier and recruiting songs. Even so, the sound of a Russian chorus invigorates the soul.
Russian folk music often features the balalaika and violin. In the Ukraine, an instrument similar to the mandolin is sometimes used. This instrument has 28 strings. It is called a bandura. The accordion and concertina are also popular instruments in Russian folk music.
The Playfulness of Russian Folk Dances
Russian folk dance music is much more playful and humorous. Plasovijtzi, roundelays and ceremonial songs are danced and sung for games, child's play and holidays. Spring holiday songs describe water nymphs and fairies. There are songs for weddings, festivals and even Butter Week. There are an abundance of Christmas carols as well as gypsy fortune-telling songs for the New Year. There are workman's songs, Siberian exile songs, factory songs and political songs of the Communist Party.
There is a ballad dance called the chorovod, which is a circle dance with a singer. There are romantic dances, like the Bride's Dance, called the kamarinskaya. There is the famous Russian Cossack Dance called the kasatchy. Among favorite Russian dances is the trepak.
Listening Selections for the Music Appreciation Student
The classical music appreciation student can probably recall learning "Song of the Volga Boatmen" from music class in elementary school. This traditional folk song highlights the deep Russian bass voice and the minor key which often represents the brave and historic struggle of the Russian people.
The student should then listen to the pristine quality of men singing ancient Russian Orthodox Novgorod chant from the 12th century A.D. A typical Russian working man's song is represented by Boris Shtokolav's "Dubinushka." Tchaikovsky wrote a Russian "Trepak" among his dance pieces in the "Nutcracker Suite." Miley Balakirev composed a fascinating "Polka" for piano that switches from major to minor repeatedly in typical Russian style. The Russian Red Army Choir has a rousing recording of "The Cossack Song" complete with bells and whistles.
References:
Depts.washington.edu, "The Russian Revolution"
Besttipstechnology.com, "The Balalaika: International Instrument With Russian Roots"
Bandura.org, "Bandura"
Passportmagazine.ru, "Maslenitsa (Butter Week)"
Donna Pravel - Donna Earnest Pravel is the owner and senior editor of www.Heart of Texas Copywriting Solutions.com.
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