Abstract
This chapter examines the changing ways in which Western sacred music was performed in concerts at major cultural centers in Russia during the period 1917–1964. It first considers early Soviet policy on Western sacred works including the repertoire of the Leningrad State Academic Capella, led by Mikhail Klimov who served as conductor and director from 1918 through 1935. The chapter goes on to assess the impact of both the Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians in the late 1920s and the effect of Stalinism in the 1930s and 40s. Finally, it comments on the preservation of part of Johann Sebastian Bach’s a capella legacy by setting the music to Soviet texts.
| Translated title of the contribution | We should not sing of heaven and angels: Western Sacred Music in Soviet Russia |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Title of host publication | The Oxford Handbook of Music Censorship |
| Editors | Patricia Hall |
| Place of Publication | New York |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780199733163 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Nov 2017 |
Keywords
- Western sacred music
- concerts
- Russia
- Vladimir Lenin
- Leningrad State Academic Capella
- Mikhail Klimov
- Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians
- Stalinism
- Cultural Revolution
- Johann Sebastian Bach
