A special place in music history is occupied by military wind orchestras the repertoire of which varies from the most serious and deepest to popular pieces and may include official, cheerful, lyrical and funeral music.In Russia, the first military court wind orchestra was created by Ivan the Terrible’s order in 1547. This genre was further developed under Peter the First who invited best performers and teachers from Europe to promote and teach the wind instruments, raising the morale and strengthening the resolve of soldiers. It’s interesting that Napoleon Bonaparte admitted that for him there were two enemies in Russia – frosts and military music.
Over time, the number of wind orchestras in Russia was constantly growing, however, for a long time, both in Russia and worldwide, their repertoire was based on adaptations. It wasn’t until the second half of the 19th century that composers came to appreciate the capabilities of wind orchestras and started to compose music specifically for them.
In 1860, the Navy Authorities issued an order establishing in the Far East a Military Brass Chorus, consisting of 51 people. In 1872 it was transferred to Vladivostok where it continued its activities. Throughout the second part of the 19th century The Chorus of East Ocean Ports Musicians remained the only professional orchestra in Vladivostok and played a special role in its musical life. In 1889 the School of Music Students was set up by Royal Authority to become the first and the only institution specializing in music education in the Far East at that time.
The proud history of the Fleet Orchestra – Vladivostok’s musical landmark – is associated with its diverse activities. It is impossible to imagine a single festive or official navy event, ceremony or anniversary without it – welcoming foreign military ships and delegations, a wreath-laying ceremony; it plays in the streets of the city at public celebrations and holiday balls. However, the orchestra’s highest professional level is best demonstrated through its concerts featuring technically and artistically complicated works belonging to different genres and styles.
Even the first concert numbers create cheerful, energetic mood – so essential for people in our dynamic life. Lyrical capabilities of the wind orchestra open up in songs by Alexandra Pakhmutova and Matvey Blanter. Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov’s variations on the theme of Mikhail Glinka’s romance Why [do you cry], young beauty? show different shades of tender, melodious theme. The musical picture by Nikolay Mentser and Ilya Sergeev was inspired by beautiful landscapes of the Far East.
Alexandra Pakhmutova’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra combines the best features of her works – heartfelt melodiousness, dramatism and pathetics. Dmitry Kabalevsky’s Overture to Colas Breugnon cannot be described better than it was done by Dmitry Shostakovich: “... freshness, sincere vivacity, youthful contagiousness – valuable characteristics – all the more so because they have been achieved through quite simple expressive means”. The concert ends with the finale of Mikhail Glinka’s opera Ivan Susanin – a hymn to the might of Russia, to the strength and stamina of our people.
Zoya Gumenyuk
