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Entries / Musical Society, The Russian

Musical Society, The Russian


Categories / Art/Music, Theatre/Art and Literary Associations, Circles

MUSICAL SOCIETY, The Russian (in 1873-1917, it was called the Imperial Russian Musical Society; RMO, IRMO) was established in 1859 on the initiative of A. G. Rubinstein and Count Matv. Y. Vielgorsky (see the Vielgorsky Family). The aim of the Russian Musical Society as established by its charter was to develop education and musical taste in Russia and encourage local talent. For this purpose the society ran regular concerts, competitions for composers, performances and publications of their works, gave grants and operated a musical library. The revolution in the sphere of musical education began with the opening of the Free Musical Classes in 1860. It was followed by the establishment of the College of Music and the Conservatory in 1862. At the same time departments of the Russian Musical Society appeared in Moscow and in other large cities. Musical classes, colleges, conservatories fulfilling the general regulations and required level of education were established within a number of departments of the Russian Musical Society. The society invited teachers, arranged concerts, rendered help of various kinds to its students, attracted music lovers to participate in the concerts. The Main Board of Directors of the Russian Musical Society was established in St. Petersburg in 1865 with the purpose of managing the activities of the society. The St. Petersburg Department enjoyed comparative advantages yet it was to submit reports to the Board of Directors according to the regulations. Until 1873, the activities of the Russian Musical Society were under the patronage of Grand Princess Elena Pavlovna who annually raised considerable sums of money for the society. His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery financed the society after the death of Elena Pavlovna. Besides managing the Conservatory and the St. Petersburg Department, the Russian Musical Society arranged 10-12 symphonic concerts annually. It also organised addition chamber orchestra concerts and charitable concerts. All in all 28 concerts were held in the year of the organisations fiftieth anniversary (1909), including ten historical and ten public concerts in the Grand Hall of the Conservatory. European classics prevailed in the programmes, yet works by contemporary Russian composers were certainly included in every programme. Rubinstein (1859-67, 1882-83, 1886-87), M. A. Balakirev (1859-67), E. F. Napravnik (1869-82), L. S. Auer (1883-84, 1887-92), Hans von Bulow (1885-86), V. I. Safonov (1897-99) were among the conductors and heads of the symphonic orchestra. Later conductors were invited to separate concerts. A. K. Glazunov, N. N. Cherepnin, S. V. Rachmaninov often appeared in the 20th century. The Board of Directors of the Russian Musical Society was housed in the buildings belonging to the Conservatory, symphonic concerts were held in the halls of the Noble Assembly, the City Duma, and the Conservatory. Quartets were performed in the halls of the house of Benardaki (86 Nevsky Prospect), in Demidov's house on Moika River Embankment (at the place of house 64/1), in the building of the Credit Society etc.

References: Финдейзен Н. Ф. Очерк деятельности С.-Петербургского отделения Императорского Русского музыкального общества (1859-1909). СПб., 1909; Мохначева М. П. Русское музыкальное общество: История создания и организационное устройство // Актуальные проблемы истории русской культуры. М., 1991. С. 157-181.

A. L. Porfiryeva.

Persons
Auer Leopold
Balakirev Mily Alexeevich
Bulow Hans von
Cherepnin Nikolay Nikolaevich
Elena Pavlovna, Grand Princess
Glazunov Alexander Konstantinovich
Napravnik Eduard Frantsevich
Rachmaninov Sergey Vasilievich
Rubinstein Anton Grigorievich
Safonov Vasily Ilyich
Vielgorsky Matvei Yurievich

Addresses
Moika River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 64/1
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 86

Bibliographies
Финдейзен Н. Ф. Очерк деятельности С.-Петербургского отделения Императорского Русского музыкального общества (1859-1909). СПб., 1909
Мохначева М. П. Русское музыкальное общество: История создания и организационное устройство // Актуальные проблемы истории рус. культуры. М., 1991

The subject Index
Chancellery, His Imperial Majesty's Personal
Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory
City Duma



Auer L. (1845-1930), violinist

AUER Leopold (1845-1930), violinist, pedagogue, conductor, student of J. Joachim. Came from Austria-Hungary. Lived in St. Petersburg in 1868-1917. During a tour to London, became acquainted with A. G

Balakirev M.A., (1836-1910) , composer

BALAKIREV Mily Alexeevich (1836-1910, St. Petersburg), composer, pianist, conductor, music and public figure. Studied at the Mathematics Department of Kazan University. Lived in St

Bobrinsky A. A. (1852-1927), public figure

BOBRINSKY Alexey Alexandrovich (1852, St. Petersburg 1927) Count, statesman and public figure, major land-owner, businessman, archaeologist, historian, senator (1896), Arch-Hoffmeister (1916). He was a son of Count Alexander A. Bobrinsky

Dargomyzhsky А.S., (1813-1869), composer

DARGOMYZHSKY Alexander Sergeevich (1813-1869, St. Petersburg), composer. Lived in St. Petersburg from 1817. Educated at home, similarly receiving a musical education. He learned to play the piano under composer and pianist F

Elena Pavlovna (1806/1807-1873), Grand Princess

ELENA PAVLOVNA (nee Frederica Charlotte Maria Princess of Wurttemberg) (1806-1873, St. Petersburg), Grand Princess, wife of Grand Prince Mikhail Pavlovich (from 1823)

Glazunov A.K., (1865-1936), composer

GLAZUNOV Alexander Konstantinovich (1865 - 1936, St. Petersburg), composer, conductor, pedagogue, public figure, People's Artist of the Republic (1922). Comes from the Glazunov family. From 1879, he studied composition and music theory under N.A

Konstantin Nikolaevich (1827-1892), Grand Prince

KONSTANTIN NIKOLAEVICH (1827, St. Petersburg - 1892, Pavlovsk), Grand Prince, General Admiral (1831), Adjutant General (1852), honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1844), member of the State Assembly (1850)

Litvin F.V. (1861-1936), singer

LITVIN Felia Vasilievna (real name Francoise-Jeanne Schutz, married name Litvinova) (1861, or 1863 according to other data, St. Petersburg - 1936), opera singer (lyric-dramatic soprano), chamber singer, teacher

Music Societies and Circles (general)

MUSICAL SOCIETIES AND CIRCLES, official associations of music lovers with their own charters and rights to hold public concerts and other activities. There were two associations founded in the last third of the 18th century: the Music Club (1772-77)

Napravnik E.F., (1839-1916), composer

NAPRAVNIK Eduard Frantsevich (1839-1916, Petrograd), conductor, composer, and musician. Originally from the Czech Republic, he studied at an organ school and under I. F. Kittl, the director of the conservatory, in Prague. He lived in St

Patronage of Art (entry)

PATRONAGE OF ART is disinterested financial and other forms of participation in the culture, science, and assistance to figures of science and culture. The beginning for patronage of art in St

Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV CONSERVATORY (3 Teatralnaya Square), the oldest Russian higher school of music. The Conservatory was founded in 1861-62 by the Russian Musical Society on the initiative of A.G

Rimsky-Korsakov N.A., (1844-1908), composer

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Nikolay Andreevich (1844-1908, Lyubensk summer residence near Luga in the St. Petersburg Region), composer, pedagogue, director, musical public figure

Rubinstein A.G., (1829-1894), composer

RUBINSTEIN Anton Grigorievich (1829-1894, Peterhof), pianist, composer, director, pedagogue, public figure. Became famous at the age of 12 over his first Europe tour in 1840-43

Tenishev V. N. (1843-1903), entrepreneur

TENISHEV Vyacheslav Nikolaevich (1843-1903), prince, entrepreneur, patron of arts, and chamberlain (1900). Married to M. K. Tenisheva. He graduated from Polytechnical School in Karlsruhe in 1864

University Concerts

UNIVERSITY CONCERTS, musical experience for students of the Imperial University, arranged in the assembly hall of the university from 1842 to the late 1850s on the initiative of court musician, violoncellist and conductor K.B

Vielgorsky Mikhail Yuryevich and Vielgorsky Matvey Yurievich, Counts, musicians

VIELGORSKY MIKHAIL YURYEVICH AND VIELGORSKY MATVEY YURIEVICH, Counts, musicians, patrons of art, brothers ("brothers of harmony"). Born in St. Petersburg. Their father authored drama and musical works, worked as a parlour musician