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International Conference on Arts, Design and Contemporary Education (ICADCE 2016) N.P. Troubetskoy—an Outstanding Leader of the Moscow Branch of the Russian Musical Society Olga Glushkova State Institute of art studies Moscow, Russia E-mail: [email protected] Abstract—The article is devoted to one of the leaders of the The Society existed during the reigns of Emperors Moscow branch of the Imperial Russian musical society, Alexander II, Alexander III, and Nicholas II. Ever since its Prince Nikolai P.Troubetskoy, who participated, along with foundation, the RMS has always been under the auspices of many outstanding representatives of Russian musical culture, Grand Princes and Duchesses: Elena Pavlovna, Nikolai the August patrons of the Society and well-known Konstantinovich, Alexandra Iosifovna, Konstantin philanthropists in the creation of concert and educational Konstantinovich, Sergei Aleksandrovich, and Princess Elena traditions of musical life of Moscow and the Moscow of Sachsen-Altenburg. Conservatory. The main figures of the IRMS were the princes V.F. Keywords—Prince N.P. Troubetskoy; Russian Musical Odoyevsky, N.P. Troubetskoy, D.A. Obolensky and A.A. Society; Moscow conservatory; Ahturka Obolensky, who were philanthropists; the Rubinstein brothers, the pianists; the composers A.S. Dargomyzhsky I. INTRODUCTION and P.I. Tchaikovsky. Many town governors, important industrialists, merchants, and landlords contributed to the The 19th century saw dramatic changes in the history of very existence and elaboration of the Society’s endeavours: Russian musical culture. Undoubtedly, the establishment of M.P. Aznachevsky, S.M. Tretyakov, N.A. Alexeyeva and the Russian Musical Society in 1859 (that also existed under K.S. Alexeyev, K.V. Rukavishnikov, G.G. Solodovnikov. the name of the Imperial Russian Musical Society from 1873 There were ordinary donators from bourgeoisie among the till 1917), which played the most essential part in the honoured members of the Society – and the famous foreign becoming of the national composition and performing composers: F. Liszt, H. Berlioz, R. Wagner. schools as well as traditions in musical education. The IRMS was credited for creating the domestic system The idea to create the RMS emerged in the course of of professional musical education as well as disseminating discussions at the imperial court, among the confidants of the musical knowledge, which was implemented in its Grand Princess Elena Pavlovna (1806-1873), the wife of the educational institutions: Musical Classes, Academies, and Grand Prince Michael Pavlovich (who was the son of Paul I), Conservatoires (before 1917, the Conservatoires in Saint- whose number also included Count M.Yu. Vielgorsky and Petersburg, Moscow, Saratov, Odessa, and Tiflis [modern the resplendent pianist A.G. Rubinstein. According to their Tbilisi] were founded). plot, the Society was to implement an educational project in order to improve musical education on a nationwide scale – The Society opened its offices in dozens of provincial i.e. to found domestic musical educational institutions and to towns (Kiev, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Omsk, Tambov, organize concerts. The RMS pronounced its main aim ―... Tomsk, Odessa, Kharkov, Yekaterinoslavl’ (nowadays development of musical education and musical taste in Dnepropetrovsk), Yekaterinodar (nowadays Krasnodar), Russia, encouragement of domestic talents‖ 1 (an excerpt Poltava, Astrakhan’, Simferopol’, Yalta, Yaroslavl’, Irkutsk, taken from the first Statute of the Society). Vladivostok etc.) and learning centres nearby, which fulfilled the Society’s tasks in disseminating musical education The era of the IRMS marked the prime of the Russian among the citizens (regular organization of concerts with musical art, elucidated by the ingenious composers and symphonic and chamber works, invitation of foreign performers who made eternal and priceless contributions to performers, artistic promotion and funding for domestic the world musical culture. These are P.I. Tchaikovsky, the composers and performers). Rubinstein brothers, S.I. Taneyev, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, V.I. Safonov, A.I. Siloti, A.N. Scriabin, S.V. Rachmaninov, As the first Russian educational institutions specializing and yet many more others who brought glory to Russia. in instructing performers, composers, music teachers opened, the new occupation of a musician emerged in the country. Representatives of the new profession possessed social benefits: they could have civil ranks, receive state awards 1 RSHA. F.1286. S. 27. D.267. and pension, move up the career ladder, enjoy immunity © 2016. The authors - Published by Atlantis Press 227 from compulsory military service etc. Apart from that, the birth history of the Moscow organization, its activities, and RMS created essential musical instruction whereby students the petition for opening the Musical Academy. acquired skills from beginner to proficiency levels and learned general compulsory subjects serving to broaden their ―Your Imperial Highness! horizons and to teach them to think in a historic and a Your Most Gracious Majesty!‖ scientific manner. In 1860, the RMS administration started its activities in Not only did the Society allow young generations to get Moscow. excellent musical education in the homeland but it also ensured that they approved themselves in all of their In the Society’s Statute, which aimed at the general goal specializations: as performers, composers, teachers, public ―The development of musical education and taste for music persons. As a result, thanks to the full-scale work of the in Russia‖, we anticipated the ubiquitous action of the Society, a constellation of eminent personalities was raised, Society in Russia, therefore there is no mention as for of patriots who deeply cared about their motherland’s destiny whether there will be the Administration, consisting of the 5 and its cultural prosperity. As years went by, more and more Directors, in one exact city, or else there will be graduates of the first Russian conservatoires in Saint administrations whenever we operate. On these grounds and Petersburg and Moscow applied their talents in concert halls, by authorization of the already-existing Saint Petersburg opera theatres, and musical institutions all over the country. Administration , yet without any funding on her part, the Moscow RMS opened, whose activities resulted in By the beginning of the 20th century, the Society’s work following—the number of its members is rising and was crowned by the grand success: Russian musical art was currently amounts to 1000 persons. In 1862, His Imperial celebrated worldwide. Highness blessed us by His presence at the Society’s meeting, and in the last, 1864 year, Your Imperial Highness did. The II. THE PRINCE N.P.TROUBETSKOY AS OUTSTANDING funds of the Society in Moscow have increased annually due LEADER OF THE MOSCOW BRANCH OF THE RUSSIAN to membership fees, public concerts, and, besides these, from MUSICAL SOCIETY members’ donations aiming at developing the Society’s activities in Moscow – with this aim Your Imperial Highness Among the main activists of the Moscow RMS, there th deigned to donate 1000 silver rubles last year, specifically on were the key representatives of the 19 -century Russian the organization of the Musical Academy in Moscow. As the culture: the princes V.F. Odoyevsky and N.P. Troubetskoy, funds were increasing, the Moscow Administration’s range the first director of the Moscow conservatoire and eminent of activities was expanding, so that currently, the Society has pianist N.G. Rubinstein and the great composer opened musical classes for playing almost all instruments P.I. Tchaikovsky. Yet only the personality of N.P. and for singing, where there are 150 students who learn, Troubetskoy sank into oblivion. But he, the state and public making payments from 2 up to 8 rubles a month, and 200 personality who took part in military campaigns (the students who learn free of charge. The free class of choir Hungarian and Crimean campaigns in 1849-1854), received singing combined with music theory according to the many awards, held office in the course of a lifetime (e.g. he Chevet’s method which we introduced here was such a was the vice-governor of Kaluga from 1876 till 1885), did a success that the military department saw how in fact simpler lot for the sake of prosperity of musical culture as well. He and easier musical education became and started was a member of the Moscow RMS Office starting from the communicating with us in order to teach this method in 1860s, organization of the Conservatoire's work and the military academies. Thus we hope, as time goes by, to attain Society’s concerts is due to him, so he definitely deserves a our goal—to disseminate musical education and taste for full and good memory. music in all strata of society‖ 2. The prince N.P. Troubetskoy (1828-1900) was one of In this written appeal to the Grand Princess we uncover key figures during the most difficult period of the Moscow the great concern of the Moscow RMS members about their RMS’s existence—at the stage of its organization. The theses discriminated status along the lines of their Society Statute. fundamental for the work of the RMS in Moscow were ―Here is the cause which incited us to ask Your Imperial brought to life mainly thanks to personal and professional Highness last year about a supplement of our statute, in qualities and extraordinary organizational aptitudes of the terms of giving us full independence of our actions as well as