anyone playing Russian music these days?

[Valde002]

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, I was working on some Russian music from the mid 1900s. Since Russia has invaded and has been boycotted from the world for the most part, I had stopped learning and playing the music and have been focusing on more European and polkas. Am wondering if there will be a place to relearn or continue the Russian music in my lifetime.

I anticipate people will respond 'just to play what you want to play'. I get that, however, still get a visceral reaction to the music, and am also wondering what others are doing in the accordion community. Am specifically referring to performing Russian music publicly. Hopefully one day there will be peace in the world again and Russia will back off from it's advances. Any thoughts on playing Russian music?

 

[petch]

I just went to see The Nutcracker at Leeds Grand Theatre, which is by Tchaikovsky, who was Russian... I think most people are sensible enough to separate hundreds of years of composers and folk music from the current activities of Putin, but maybe things are different in the States

 

[debra]

I just went to see The Nutcracker at Leeds Grand Theatre, which is by Tchaikovsky, who was Russian... I think most people are sensible enough to separate hundreds of years of composers and folk music from the current activities of Putin, but maybe things are different in the States

Since before the Russian invasion of Ukraine a quintet of mine started preparing for an upcoming competition by studying the overture of Ruslan and Lyudmila by Michail Glinka (who was Russian), the French Ballad (based on "Feuilles Mortes") by Viktor Novikov (the Russian composer and bayan player, not the hitman) and Concert Samba (by Borys Myronchuk, who is Ukrainian). I believe playing music from Russian and Ukrainian origin kinda balances out the potential issues. I also see some Ukrainian bayan players perform music by Russian composers, so if they don't make an issue out of it, why should we?

 

[oldbayan]

I love Russian and Slavic music. Musicians have nothing to do with politics and war, although I must admit I am less inclined to play Russian material at the moment

 

[saundersbp]

Any thoughts on playing Russian music?

I've started learning Russian accordion music in the past month by Zolotaryov, long dead and hated his time as a conscript in the army. I don't think we can cancel music from one of the worlds great civilisations just because they are currently being led by a maniac. If we went down this road there quickly wouldn't be any music or art left.

Music from a particular culture shows us what is the most worthy and beautiful from it's people and serves to draw a powerful contrast between that and the appalling behaviour of political elites.

 

[dak]

Musicians have nothing to do with politics and war,

National anthems and military marches are a thing. Music is certainly an important means for establishing national identity and "us vs them". And, like language, it is partly weaponised for justifying "liberations". The anti-war and anti-segregation protests in the U.S. in the 60s were carried a lot by protest songs, and so was the "singing revolution" in Estonia. For better or worse, something as close to the heart of people as music will be called upon to justify matters of life and death, and it is not amiss as a musician to keep one's eyes open for instrumentalization.

 

[Dingo40]

Music from a particular culture shows us what is the most worthy and beautiful from it's people and serves to draw a powerful contrast between that and the appalling behaviour of political elites.

Someone once said (words to the effect),
"The people with the cruelest history have the most beautiful music."
I tend to agree.

 

[vivdunstan]

I still play Russian music, though generally folk tunes. Just for my enjoyment, not for performance. I would feel reluctant to share them with others at the moment. Russian tunes are just a small part of my repertoire. But I do still enjoy playing them. I have also arranged and shared more widely the Ukrainian national anthem for the accordion.

 

[PhiliGol]

I did a transcription of Khachaturian's Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia for our Orchestra and was somewhat in doubt whether we're going to put it on the bill for the concert in November. Somehow I had understood in case we decided against at the same time I'd regret it as it is a wonderful piece. Also it was quite some challenge for all my fellow musicians as well as for myself
Finally we decided to perform it and the feedback was quite positive and encouraging.

 

[Random Johnny]

My teacher is Russian and I’m working through a Ukrainian Study for Accordion/Bayan by Aleksandr Dorensky. Called “Steps of Craftmanship”. Beautiful music.

 

[dak]

My teacher is Russian and I’m working through a Ukrainian Study for Accordion/Bayan by Aleksandr Dorensky. Called “Steps of Craftmanship”. Beautiful music.

And the studies will likely have Russian instructions, possibly with an English translation. But due to world events, this model will not continue. German had been the language of choice for several sciences before the World Wars (including, for whatever reason, Romance language studies). This ended with the Third Reich. In these days, there is no more surefire method of ending a cultural empire than giving the responsibility for it to the military. You cannot conquer goodwill. What a waste.

 

[JerryPH]

Not so much Russian in my list lately, but I am going to be starting a little project of a few Czech songs being recorded for my personal collection in the coming weeks (not sure that will interest very many people here, so I won't be posting). It's a bit of a New Year's resolution, just a bit earlier.

 

[EuroFolker]

What about American music then?

Given all the invasions / aggressions, all over the world, in the last hundred years.

 

[Ffingers]

What about American music then?

Given all the invasions / aggressions, all over the world, in the last hundred years.

...and that does not include the violent origins of the nation, the internal vitriol and aggression, nor the cultural and legislative desecration of other socities brought about by financial and military dominance.

Those are not, as we all know, characteristics exclusive to one country, though.

Land of Hope and Glory...
Rule Brittania...

...and their equivalents all around the world.

 

[Dingo40]

What about American music then?

Is there still any such thing ?

 

[EuroFolker]

Is there still any such thing ?

To my ears, not since the forties.

 

[Dingo40]

In fact (in these days of " identity politics"), is there still any such thing as an"American " ( other than a geographical place tag)

 

[dak]

Well, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Andrew Lloyd Webber, AC/DC, The Who, Elton John, Queen... Wait.

 

[Dingo40]

Beatles, Rolling Stones,

Americans ?
Hmm,
Yes... these days anything is possible.

 

[dak]

Americans ?

You didn't wait.