Russian Music Evolves
When Russia was still part of the USSR, the music that people were allowed to listen to was not free to choose. The communist government kept tight control on what was considered acceptable music for its people to listen to. This included controlling what their youth was allowed to hear. This meant no western rock and roll. When the USSR fell near the end of 1991, this all began to change. But up to that time Russia still had quite a music industry.
The classical, operatic and ballet history is an extensive and successful one. There were two rival groups in the 1800s whose musical tastes differed as much as their political leanings. The Mighty Handful was a group composers and singers of folk music. Yet, they were most known for their operas and symphonies, while the Russian Music Society centered more on national unity and conservative music. The Soviet governments sanitized music, taking what choirs or orchestras had formed and making them play specific pieces, often more folk lore than folk music.
Tchaikovsky is the most famous of all Russian composers outside of his native country. He is, or course, well thought of by the Russian people as well. He is most widely remembered for writing the ballets Swan Lake in 1875 and the Nutcracker Suite in 1891. But Sleeping Beauty, written in 1888, was his favorite.
This is not to say that Russia had no music during his time. In the 1960s, while the rest of the world was turning to rock and roll, the USSR saw the rise of folk singers from all walks of life. Traditional music of their country was making a comeback from the romantic music of the early 1900s. Russian rock started to sneak out and there was even a Russian rock opera. They were carefully watched, and not western, so they were allowed. Western music was being smuggled into the country but those with it were careful not to get caught.
Western rock and roll was seen as evil. But despite this government condemnation the Beatles were getting the same reactions from Russian youth as they were from others worldwide. A group of four young men, calling themselves Virmalised, formed a copycat group and were very popular. Others tried to be like them and although many tried very few were actually successful. Those that did well, however, did very well. Though they were refused the ability to record their music by the laws of their country and the fact that their lyrics were scrutinized and regulated, they were making inroads. The 1980s saw more changes. Russian rock and roll began to really come into itself. There were now rock clubs where the country’s youth could go and enjoy music of their age. Albums began to be self-released. The government was still not happy with this but they watched closely instead of stopping it. The lyrics were getting more obscene and this caused problems. Many years later the albums were re-released in bulk with government permission.
After the fall of the USSR, Russian groups were permitted to tour and give concerts all over the country. They were able to record their music and sell it. They were also permitted to tour and sell their music in Europe and North America, This was a big step for those musicians who had worked so hard but never felt like they were getting anywhere.
Now, after so many years of fighting, sneaking around and waiting for things to change Russian music is not so much different from that in the west. They have their own style of rock and roll, it is divided into many genres and they are free to play it and record it.
