Free Music School

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FREE MUSIC SCHOOL was organised by M. A. Balakirev and G. Y. Lomakin to teach singing and organise concerts. It taught choral classes to adults, singing mainly church music. All adults, regardless of gender or class, could participate, while the purpose of the school was to encourage an interest in music of the New Russian School. It existed in 1862-1917. The school was funded by takings from concerts, annual dues from permanent supporters who received the right to listen to concerts (not less than 50 roubles), entrance fees of the students (five roubles), donations and subsidies. In 1862-1916, His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery subsidized the organisation with 500 roubles annually. In 1867-72, the City Duma also gave a subsidy of 500 roubles. From 1871 to 1900, the school received free locations for classes and the Duma Hall for concerts. The charter for the Free Music School was approved in 1867. Directors of the school were: Balakirev and Lomakin (1862-68), Balakirev (1868-73), N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov (1874-81), Balakirev (1881-1908), S. M. Lyapunov (1908-17). The programme of the classes included the musical alphabet, solfeggio, solo singing and choral singing, music theory and violin lessons for those wishing to become chanters. The concert programme determined the educational side: choir practice and rehearsals took up most of time. The Free Music School reached the peak of its activity under Lomakin's directorship. The chorus participated in public concerts and “was brought to a level of accomplishment, which had never even been conceived by those living in St. Petersburg before”, C A. Cui. After Lomakin’s resignation in 1870, the quality of the society gradually declined. The last concert performed by the school choir took place on 11 April 1898. However, involvement with concerts continued until 5 April 1911, with the Balakirev Memorial Concert. Officials, young people from the merchant class, clerks, craftsmen, factory workers, students, women and girls from among the middle class were among the students of the Free Music School in the 19th century. Initially, the classes were held in the building of the Medical-Surgical Academy, then at Fountain House (see Sheremetev Palace) until the resignation of Lomakin. The classes were held in the apartments of the City Duma until 1900, later in the St. Petersburg Music School (16 Nevsky Prospect, and from 1910, at 13 Troitskaya Square).

References: Устав Бесплатной музыкальной школы... СПб., 1867; Милий Алексеевич Балакирев: Летопись жизни и творчества. Л., 1967; Стасов В. В. 25-летие Бесплатной музыкальной школы // Стасов В. В. Статьи о музыке. М., 1978. Вып. 4. С. 22-42 (программы концертов 1862-87).

A. L. Porfiryeva. Balakirev Mily Alexeevich
Cui Cesar Antonovich
Lomakin Gavriil Yakimovich (Ioakimovich)
Lyapunov Sergey Mikhailovich
Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolay Andreevich
Stasov Vladimir Vasilievich
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 16
Rubinsteina St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 13
Устав Бесплатной музыкальной школы... СПб., 1867
Стасов В. В. 25-летие Бесплатной музыкальной школы // Стасов В. В. Статьи о музыке. М., 1978
Милий Алексеевич Балакирев: Летопись жизни и творчества. Л., 1967 Sheremetev Palace
City Duma