Russian music.

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Russian music.
http://www.russian-music-video.com/
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Rich traditions of Russian music began around the 10th century with wandering minstrel singers
performing heroic poems. Sadly, these made up stories were not recorded until the 1600s.
These minstrels would perform at weddings and court celebrations. So singing was the most
important way of making music during those times, especially at church.
Music in the Orthodox Church was based on traditions from the Byzantine Empire, so there were a
lot of bell ringing and choral singing going on. Even though the most famous composers were from
the 19th and 20th centuries, the rich musical traditions began in the Middle Ages.
When I think of famous works by Russian composers, The Flight of the Bumblebee and the
Nutcracker Suite with their beautiful, rich expression comes to mind. One composer. Prokofiev,
wrote 3 operas when he was a teenager. Another artist, Stravinsky wrote a ballet and his music
was used in Fantasia, a Walt Disney movie.
In the 1700s, Peter the Great invited composers to introduce music to the Russian Court. During
the Romantic Period, a group of Russian composers nicknamed the Mighty Five wrote music
based on Russian tradition.
During the 20th Century, traditions of fine music continued with famous performers, conductors
and composers. You can see many of them here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T7Zloj39kI
Here is a list of the top 15 Russian Composers that I am familiar with. I have played most of their
selections of music along with many of my piano students. Keep in mind that many Russian
composers were also famous pianists.
1. Arensky: A Dream on the Volga (opera)
2. Balakirev: Gondolier's Song
3. Borodin: Gliding Dance of the Maidens
4. Cui: Bolero, Opus 17
5. Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila (opera), Sabre Dance in G major
6. Kabalevsky: Opus 81 - Spring Dances (1965)

2. 7. Mussorgsky: Night on the Bold Mountain.
8. Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67 and Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64
9. Rachmaninoff: Piano Prelude in C# minor
10. Rubinstein, Anton and Nikolai: Dmitry Donskoy and Tarantella in G minor.
11. Scriabin: Poem of Ecstasy
12. Shostakovich: Festive Overture, Opus 96. Theme music for Summer Olympics for 1980.
13. Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring and the Five Fingers
14. Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake
15. Tcherepnin: Ajanta's Frescoes (Ballet)
Two famous music schools that continue to train on-going famous composers are the Moscow
Conservatory and the St. Petersburg Conservatory.
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Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diana_Rogers
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Russian music.
http://www.russian-music-video.com/
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