Academic Music in the Repertoire of the Southern Military District Bands in the Second Half of the 20th Century

The article considers the role of academic music in the process of the repertoire development of military bands of the Southern Military District. Particular emphasis is given to identifying the specifics of academic music’s functioning within the context of Russian culture when analysing its importance in the repertoire of military bands from the 1980s. Studies on the characteristics of academic musical art and works devoted to the development of military bands were employed in this regard. The research material was based on a collection of documents regarding the 24th Military Band of the Joint Strategic Command of the Southern Military District, formed on the basis of the military band of the 106th Communications Regiment (formerly the 15th Military Band of the Headquarters of the North Caucasus Military District). The Correspondence on the military band service of the bands of the Southern Military District for 1988–1989 was the basis for establishing the repertoire, composition, and management of the bands. As a result of its study, the main directions of the repertoire of the bands of the Southern Military District were established. The concert repertoire of the bands included works by outstanding Russian and foreign composers of academic orientation. These are famous works by 19th century composers: M. Glinka (Overtures to the operas Ivan Susanin (A Life for the Tsar) and Ruslan and Lyudmila), A. Dargomyzhsky (Fantasy on a Cossack theme), N. Rimsky-­Korsakov (Concert March on the themes of the symphonic suite Scheherazade and Procession from the ballet Mlada), M. Mussorgsky (Scherzo in B-flat major), P. Tchaikovsky (Solemn Overture of 1812), S. Rachmaninoff (Overture to the opera Aleko), G. Rossini (Overture to the opera The Barber of Seville), G. Verdi (The Drinking Song from the opera La Traviata). Moreover, the bands of the Southern Military District performed academic music by Soviet composers. Academic traditions are preserved in the formation of the modern repertoire of the 24th Military Band of the Joint Strategic Command of the Southern Military District. Conclusions are drawn regarding the exceptional training of military band musicians, which enabled them to perform virtuoso academic pieces that exemplify the intricate artistic concept of notable 18th- and 20th-century composers. It is observed that understanding the principles of academic music’s functioning in band activities allows us to reevaluate traditional views on their importance in Russian musical culture and to appreciate how military music influenced the evolution of academic art.