Folklore of the land of Ryazan
The Ryazan expanse is wide and vast. The endless Meshchera forests gently whisper about something with a light breeze. Among the flowering meadows flows its clear waters leisurely blue-eyed Oka. How many talents this land has gifted and surprised, and what songs live in the soul of the people here, in the heart of Russia!
Carefully preserves all the original features of the song tradition of the Ryazan region Ryazan Choir, whose repertoire is based on ancient songs. The soul of the people sounds in them - sometimes sad and thoughtful, sometimes tender and loving, striving for happiness. The choir and soloists manage to convey the color of each tune with great reliability and accuracy. And today, as before, the creative credo of the team remains unchanged - the revival, preservation and development of the richest folklore traditions native land and Russian folk singing culture.
The choir was created in 1946 on the basis of the folklore ensemble of the village of Bolshaya Zhuravinka, Ryazhsky district, Ryazan region. Its founder and first artistic director, Irina Ivanovna Kosilkina, managed to create a professional Russian folk song choir from an amateur group. Since 1950, the director of the choir has been a native of the Starozhilovsky district, a graduate of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky, Evgeny Grigorievich Popov, whose name was later given to the group. E.G. Popov subtly and carefully treated the origins of song creativity of his native land. He recorded and processed hundreds of melodies that were included in the golden fund of the Ryazansky repertoire folk choir. The sound of the choir is unique and original. It is characterized by warmth, sincerity and soulful lyrics, so characteristic of the Russian soul. And his songs are just as unique - part of the musical treasury of Russia, songs that were composed in the “land of birch calico.” The choral and dance traditions of our native country are carefully preserved. Ryazan folklore underlies dances and vocal and choreographic paintings.
Kosilkina Irina Ivanovna, a native of the village of Bolshaya Zhuravinka, a self-taught musician, a woman with great creative will and organizational abilities, led the Zhuravinsky choir, and then the Ryazan folk choir
The 30s are already close, the Ryazan outback. And here, in the village of Bolshaya Zhuravinka, Ryazhsky district, local peasants gather for rehearsals. Yes, not on the heap. Not outside the outskirts in a round dance. Not at gatherings, but in the choir. Time predetermined this - the Russian song did not stop then. In fairness, it is perhaps worth saying that at that time in the Ryazhsky region there were many other rural choral groups: Fofanovsky, for example, Egoldaevsky... But the greatest success fell on the lot of the Zhuravinovsky - they were valued for their special style of singing - with a sonorous, “flight” “sound, with colorful echoes and a unique repertoire - from “their village.”
In those years, a small number of native singers, natives of the village, “played” in the choir (in many Ryazan and Russian villages they still say not “sing”, but “play”). And the first public performance of the Zhuravinovians took place in 1932 and aroused the keenest interest.
And since the 30s, this original group has been headed by Irina Ivanovna Kosilkina, a famous singer in the village and a writer of ditties. She determined his future fate. All the pre-war years, the choir was noticeable (and was celebrated several times) at various regional shows; it was often invited to Moscow for creative Olympiads (there were such before), where the Zhuravinians, representing the Ryazan land, showed their deep Russian folk performing arts.
And then the Zhuravinovians were called artlessly - “the choir of the collective farm named after Karl Marx.”
In those years, the basis of the choir’s repertoire were the favorite songs of the village of Bolshaya Zhuravinka: “Oh, the red sun has set,” “The girls sowed flax,” “Rowan-rowan.” They also willingly sang original songs of those years, as they would say now, the period of collective farm construction: such was the way of life...
During the Great Patriotic War, the singers of the Zhuravino choir Gorbunova and Korolkova with the accordion player Letaev, as part of the concert brigade, traveled a lot along front roads, performed for several months in front of the Red Army soldiers in often difficult conditions, at the risk of their lives...
...And here is the year 46, which can be called fateful (I’m not afraid of this word) in the life of the choir! On October 27, 1946, by decision of the regional Council, the Zhuravino Russian Song Choir was “transferred” to the number of professional ones, becoming the State Ryazan Russian Folk Choir. And its first professional artistic director was Irina Ivanovna Kosilkina. She now faced a difficult and responsible task: to lead the team along a previously unfamiliar path - professional performance.
From the first days, she took the most careful attitude towards local singing traditions as the main thing. However, this, of course, frankly speaking, was not enough in her new role. It was difficult for her to master musical literacy, but she, understanding the need for this in her work, was persistent and tireless. He goes to the Tula region, to the city of Venev, and studies music education courses there...
Irina Ivanovna travels around villages a lot at this time, collecting songs, original folk costumes Ryazan region - everything for the formation of the native choir. At the same time, she recorded Russian folk songs that we now know and perform, such as “Oh, the forester is on edge,” “Oh, go for a walk, girls, it’s time,” “Sitting dozing,” “Under the roof is a sparrow,” and many, many others: round dances, weddings, comics, dances! And now it turns out that it’s been 90 years since her birth. And on my desk in my office I still have Irina Ivanovna’s field notes as “reference books” - notebooks with musical notations of Ryazan songs that she made during her trips.
I cannot help but mention how uniquely Irina Ivanovna Kosilkina worked with the choir, according to the principles of folk improvisation. During classes, I asked the singers to “search for their voices.” This is typical for traditional folk singing.
The traditions of collecting were continued and not forgotten (and this is especially important). song folklore, started by Irina Ivanovna Kosilkina. In the first years of his creative work in the choir, Evgeny Grigorievich Popov invariably turned to folklore material collected by Irina Ivanovna. At that time, while remaining a folklore consultant in the team, she strongly supported his interest in the origins of folk performance. And those notebooks of hers, which are now in the cultural baggage of our choir, were constantly leafed through by them.
Recorded by Nikolai Reunov, Ryazan Vedomosti, 05/22/2001.
(From an interview with A.A. Kozyrev)
“Couplets from the main song of Arina Kosilkina” is a documentary film about the life and creative path of Irina Ivanovna Kosilkina. The film was presented for the first time as part of the Seventh Gareth Readings and is dedicated to the upcoming 100th anniversary of Irina Kosilkina.
Evgeniy Grigorievich Popov – choral conductor, composer, National artist RSFSR, student of K.B. Birds, artistic director of the Ryazan Folk Choir
One can envy his fate. In the village of Gulynki, in the Ryazan region, where he was born into the family of rural paramedic Grigory Aristarkhovich Popov, the song was honored. They sang in the house, sang in winter at gatherings in a neighboring hut, sang near the outskirts on spring and summer nights. Judging by family memories, the culprit was a neighbor - a carpenter, the first dancer and musician in the village. As a sign of deep respect for the local paramedic, he made a three-string balalaika for his four-year-old son. Parents were not surprised serious attitude little Zhenya to new toy. But, noticing how, having matured, the boy is increasingly drawn to musical instruments, can listen to the singing of village women for hours, the parents realized: their son is forever lost to medicine, technology, science and many other areas of human activity. It was a happy loss: the song benefited from it.
The joyful discovery of Russian song wealth accompanied E. Popov both in his native village, and at the Ryazan Music School, and at the Moscow State Conservatory. But not everything was easy and joyful. On the very day when E. Popov took solfeggio and harmony at the entrance exams to the conservatory, a girl ran into the audience and exhaled: “War...”
And Popov put on a soldier's overcoat. He served on Far East, participated in the war with Japan. And, having been demobilized from the unit, the very next day he reported to the conservatory. They reasonably remarked to him: “It’s February, classes started in September, so come next year.” A happy accident helped. The deputy dean of the conducting and choral faculty entered the training section: “Popov? I remember you very well from the pre-war entrance exams. Find your old exam paper in the archive. But the course has been running for five months now. Can you catch up?"
Popov did it. I studied 14 hours a day. The internship took place in Bolshoi Theater, which became for him a real school of Russian singing culture.
Having received a diploma with honors, the talented conductor and young composer E. Popov refuses a flattering offer to take up pedagogical activity at the Saratov Conservatory and happily agrees to lead the Ryazan Russian Folk Choir, unknown to anyone in those years. The choir at that time was going through a difficult period: there were no premises for rehearsals, no housing, and the basics of musical literacy were lacking. The team was based in the village of Zhuravinka, Ryazhsky district, and came to Ryazan as if on tour. The chorus melted. By the time E. Popov arrived, there were 14 people left. Thanks to the organizational skills of E. Popov, a week later the choir received a hostel in Ryazan, the stage of one of the factory clubs for classes. IN a short time the team was complete. Started studying musical notation, history of music.
Folklore expeditions organized by Popov follow one after another.
Evgeny Grigorievich collected about 300 songs from the Ryazan region. More than 100 songs have been processed by the composer and performed by the Ryazan Choir, causing the admiration of listeners. And today they sound “Are you a rowan tree”, “Oh, the red sun has set”, “Rowan ash tree”...
In 2001, the State Academic Ryazan Russian Folk Choir was awarded the name of its legendary artistic director- Evgenia Popova. Evgeny Popov forever entered the history of Russian musical culture.
“Happy is the person who one day turns from the highway onto a country road, sees an overgrown pond near his native outskirts, a house blackened by bad weather, where every knot in the white-washed floorboards is familiar, and suddenly feels, understands in his heart that it is impossible to serve Russia without serving his native places »– said E.G. Popov.
The pearl of the Ryazan choir’s repertoire, the calling card of not only the choir, but the entire Ryazan region, was Evgeny Popov’s song “Above the Window is a Moon” based on the verses of Sergei Yesenin.
In the choir's repertoire, a special place is occupied by songs based on the poems of Sergei Yesenin, the music for which was written by E. Popov. This is what he said: “For us, Sergei Yesenin is not only a great Russian poet, but also a dear, close fellow countryman. He uniquely praised our Ryazan nature. His poems contain a lot of our Ryazan words, phrases, expressions, and most importantly, the soul of the people lives in Yesenin’s poetry, every line of his poems is permeated with love for their native land.”
And the fire of dawn, and the splash of a wave, and the silvery moon, and the rustle of reeds, and the immense heavenly blue, and the blue surface of the lakes - all the beauty of the native land over the years has been poured into poems full of love for the Russian land.
From heartfelt poems about the “country of birch calico”, the breadth of its steppe expanses, blue lakes, the noise of green oak forests to anxious thoughts about the fate of Russia in the “harsh menacing years”, every Yesenin image, every Yesenin line is warmed by a feeling of boundless love for the Motherland.
Yesenin knew Russian poetry, especially appreciated poems that became folk songs, and dreamed that his poetry would be “absorbed into the flesh of the people.” Many composers have turned and are turning to Yesenin’s poetry.
A significant part of the Ryazan choir’s repertoire consists of songs based on the poems of Sergei Yesenin - this is not only a tribute to the great countryman, but also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for composers, performers and listeners.
The first song by E. Popov based on the verses of S. Yesenin “Birch” appeared in 1956. The composer recalls: “This is one of early works poet, created by him at the age of 15. It depicts Russian nature, I would even say Ryazan nature: a winter landscape in very light, soft colors... And I tried to write music that was also light, lyrical, so that the birch tree was ours, Ryazan not only in poetry, but also in music."
Songs based on the poems of Sergei Yesenin are both a tribute from the Ryazan choir to the great countryman and an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
“One of the most poetic miracles of S. Yesenin,” says the composer, “is the mature poetry of a man who has seen a lot, been far from his homeland, but has retained in his soul a living and reverent love for his native land. When creating a song based on these verses, I tried to carefully preserve all their charm and rich poetic subtext.”
The beauty of the “country of birch chintz”, sung by the great Russian poet, its beautiful people found a second musical and stage life in the art of the Ryazan Russian Folk Choir. These are traditional folk songs of the Ryazan region in excellent musical arrangements by the legendary choir leaders - E.G. Popov and A.A. Kozyreva. Magnificent song lyrics to the poems of Sergei Yesenin by composers of the Ryazan land - Evgeny Popov, Alexander Ermakov, Georgy Galakhov, the brightest musical heritage of our fellow countryman, composer Alexander Averkin.
The choir performs all the songs written by our Russian poet from the Ryazan region, Sergei Yesenin. The choir from Ryazan sings the songs of their great countrymen! And next to Ryazan is the village of Konstantinovo, where Sergei Yesenin was born and raised.
“There is a month above the window. There is wind under the window. The poplar that has flown around is silvery and bright...” comes the song from the receiver. And from the toes, hands, from the roots of the hair, from every cell of the body, a drop of blood rises to the heart, pricks it, fills it with tears and bitter delight, you want to run somewhere, hug someone alive, repent before the whole world or hide in a corner and cry out all the bitterness that is in the heart, and that which still remains in it.” Having poured out the feelings that washed over him with the song, the author concluded his confession with the words: “Hats off, Russia! They sing Yesenin!”(Victor Astafiev)
State Academic Ryazan Russian Folk Choir named after E. Popov is a pearl of Russian culture
Today the group represents a synthesis of three directions of folk performing arts: vocal-choral, dance and instrumental, where each performer is a professional artist and has special training and education.
The creative credo of the choir is the preservation, development and revival on stage of the rich heritage of folk traditions and modern original music in the genre of folk performance.
Much creative activity in the status of a state folk choir is aimed at preserving the local original style of singing, recording and processing Ryazan folklore and searching for new works that meet the criteria true art.
Among the new numbers are “Ryazan Festive” and the song of the Sarajevo region “Bochenka”. Dynamics and enthusiasm were added to the vocal and choreographic paintings on the themes of Ryazan crafts, prepared for the Slavic Round Dance festival. The performances featured coopers, blacksmiths, carpenters, Mikhailovsky lacemakers... What struck me most, perhaps, was the “Potters” act. Clay, Potter's wheel, the process of birth under the hands of a master of a work of art - it’s amazing that all this can be shown through dance. The composition once won the hearts of the audience and has now returned to the stage. Constantly searching for new ones expressive means, led to the creation of compositions based on elements of folk crafts: “Mikhailovsky lace”, “Skopinsky potters”.
A singer from another region, Vladimir Soloukhin, wrote: “You can mistake the song of another bird for the trills of a nightingale, until suddenly you hear the true singer of the Russian forest. It's impossible to make a mistake here. The trills are so perfect and unique.”
- Krasnoznamenny named after A.V. Aleksandrova song and dance ensemble of the Soviet Army under the direction of B.A. Aleksandrov perform revolutionary songs “Orelik”, “Listen”, “Black Raven”, songs “Along the Narrow Bridge” by K. Akimov, “Holy Leninist Banner” "A.V. Aleksandrova, "Song of the pilots" by B.A. Aleksandrova, "At a camping halt" by L.O. Bakalova, "Goodbye, city and hut", "Song about Shchors", "Under our banner", " Soldier's service", "The sun disappeared behind the mountain", "High-speed tanks" by M.I. Blanter, "The Black Sea Sun is burning" by A.P. Dolukhanyan, "Naval Guard" by Yu.S. Milyutin, "Wait for the soldier", "The waves will scatter" "B.A. Mokrousova, "Russia", "Smuglyanka" by A.G. Novikov, "Near the Garden" by G.N. Nosov, "Song of Troubled Youth" by A.N. Pakhmutova, "The Wave is Noisy, the String is Ringing "Yu.M. Slonova, "On the Road", "On a Sunny Meadow" by V.P. Solovyov-Sedoy, "At the Native Frontier" by V.K. Sorokin, "Guards Polka" by B.M. Terentyev, "Lenin is always with you”, “We are for peace”, “My beloved homeland”, “I was leaving for the army” by S.S. Tulikov, “There is a good town in the north” by T.N. Khrennikov.
- The VR Song Ensemble under the direction of A.S. Andrusenko performs the songs “Like at Dawn” by N.P. Budashkin, “Budyonny’s Horse” by A.A. Davidenko, “My Komsomol Youth” by A.P. Dolukhanyan, “Song of Past Campaigns” by Z .L. Kompaneitsa, “We Went Hiking” by K.Ya. Listov, “Song about Voroshilov” by F. Sabo, “Song about Lazo” by F. Sadovoy, “Wide Open Spaces” by A.G. Flyarkovsky, “Waltz of Friendship” by A. I. Khachaturyan, “Song of the Don Cossacks” by N.K. Chemberdzhi.
- The State Russian Folk Choir named after M.E. Pyatnitsky under the direction of P.M. Kazmin performs the songs “Song of Our Youth” by P.S. Akulenko, “Our Strength is in the Just Cause,” “Glory to the Soviet Power,” “A Border Guard Came from Service” V.G. Zakharova, “Don’t lag behind your friends” Z.L. Kompaneets, “Let’s be friends”, “Raise the Banner of Labor”, “The party is faithful to the people” A.G. Novikov, “ Soviet Russia» S.S. Tulikova.
- The State Russian Folk Choir of the Northern Song under the direction of A.Ya. Kolotilova performs the songs “Belomorets” by V.A. Laptev, “Clear Month” by A.G. Novikov.
- The VR Russian Song Choir under the direction of N.V. Kutuzov performs the songs “Why We Love Our Motherland” by P.S. Akulenko, “Moscow Festival” by G.N. Grankin, “Timoshka’s Curls Are Curly” by Yu.M. Slonov.
- The State Siberian Russian Folk Choir under the direction of V.S. Levashov performs V.S. Levashov’s songs “I was sitting under the window”, “The sea spilled without edge”, “Wide steppes”.
- The Voronezh Russian folk choir under the direction of K.I. Massalitinov performs K.I. Massalitinov’s songs “They say that I’m good”, “The nightingale has flown away”.
- The State Volga Folk Choir under the direction of P.M. Miloslavov performs G.F. Ponomarenko’s songs “Saratov Choruses” and “We are near Kuibyshev”.
- The ensemble "Beryozka" under the direction of N.S. Nadezhdina performs I.O. Dunaevsky's song "Oh, the viburnum is blooming."
- The Chuvash State Song and Dance Ensemble under the direction of F.M. Lukin performs the songs “Favorite Party” by F.M. Lukin, “Glory to the Native Party” by G.Ya. Khirby.
- The VR Big Choir under the direction of K.B. Ptitsa performs the songs “Dawn of the Ages” by A.A. Babaev, “Resort Song”, “Fly Doves” by I.O. Dunaevsky, “We Sing” by S.A. Zaslavsky, “Our Soviet power" by D.B. Kabalevsky, "Country of October" by F.I. Maslov, "Glory to our native state" by K.V. Molchanov, "March of the Communists" by A.G. Novikov, "We are communists", "This is the youth coming "S.S. Tulikova, "Hail the Great Soviet Union"A.N. Kholminova, "The sun shines on us" by R.K. Shchedrin.
- The State Academic Russian Choir of the USSR under the direction of A.V. Sveshnikov performs revolutionary songs “You have fallen as a victim”, “We are blacksmiths”, A.G. Schnittke’s song “Wherever you go or go”.
- The Ural Russian folk choir under the direction of L. L. Christiansen performs G. I. Vekshin’s song “Groom”.
- The VR Song Ensemble, directed by V.V. Tselikovsky, performs the songs “We are going, friends” by V.I. Muradeli, “Soviet Country Komsomol” by S.S. Prokofiev.
- The children's choir of the Moscow City House of Pioneers and the orchestra conducted by V.S. Loktev performs the songs “Fly the Wind” by V.S. Loktev, “Pioneer” by A.I. Ostrovsky.
- The Ryazan Russian Folk Song Choir under the direction of E.G. Popov performs E.G. Popov’s songs “Birch”, “In the Meadow, on the Shore”, “Russian Blizzard”.
- The State Belarusian Folk Choir under the direction of G.I. Tsitovich performs A.G. Flyarkovsky’s songs “Autumn Lines”, “After the Rain”.
- The State Academic Choir of the BSSR under the direction of G.R. Shirma performs G.K. Pukst’s song “My Favorite Land.”
- The State Ukrainian Folk Choir under the direction of G. G. Verevka performs G. G. Verevka’s song “Shakhterochka”.
- The Soviet Song Ensemble of the Latvian Radio under the direction of T. Kalnins performs the songs “Zhiguli” by B.A. Mokrousov, “Long Live the Moscow Festival” by A.I. Ostrovsky, “Love and Friendship” by S.S. Tulikov.
- The State Choir of the Lithuanian SSR, under the direction of K. Kavyackas, performs K. Kavyackas’ songs “The Earth Wept in the Evening Twilight”, “The Fisherman’s Song”.
- The vocal and instrumental ensemble "Werner" (GDR) performs the songs "Only Eleven Years" by H. Bath, "Kiss Me" by B. Davy, "Song of Love" by I. Riadon, "Tell" by S. Fein, "About the First Meeting" .Eichenberg.
- Vocal quartet “Cheyanda” (Poland) performs the songs “Your loving eyes” by A. Belostotsky, “I am in love with my Warsaw” by E. Wieler, “Song about the Vistula” by V. Gan, “Under the sky of Paris” by Z. Zhiro, “Your heart is with me” by N. Zemensky, “The Lighthouse” by T. Kucher, “The Game of Blind Man’s Bluff” by A. Mushinsky, “Captain”, “Don’t teach me to dance” by V. Shpilman.
Northern Russian folk choir – the soul of the White Sea region
Arkhangelsk Pomors are the descendants of the ancient Novgorodians who settled this region in ancient times. Their art is still preserved in its originality. This peculiar art world with its own laws and concepts of beauty. At the same time, in the songs and dances of the North, the humor, enthusiasm, and inner temperament characteristic of the Pomors are clearly manifested. Northern song art is special, it is distinguished by rigor of style, chaste purity and restraint, all this is combined with a courageous epic and strong-willed beginning.
The Northern Choir is rightly called the pearl of Russian culture. Over the 85 years of its existence, it has never changed its role. Each performance is a special artistic world and a bright dynamic performance: large plot productions, vocal and choreographic compositions, pictures of folk holidays. All the sound shades of northern nature are heard in the song polyphony of the choir: the thoughtful talk of the taiga, the smooth chastity of the rivers, the echoing depth of the ocean and the transparent trembling of the white nights.
Antonina Yakovlevna KOLOTILOVA - founder and artistic director of the State Academic Northern Russian Folk Choir (1926 - 1960), People's Artist of the RSFSR, Honored Artist of the RSFSR, laureate of the USSR State Prize
“Whoever does not love his native song does not love his native people!”(A.Ya. Kolotilova)
Antonina Yakovlevna Kolotilova (Sherstkova) was born in 1890 in the village of Zhilino, not far from the ancient city of Veliky Ustyug.
In 1909, Kolotilova graduated with honors from the Veliky Ustyug Women's Gymnasium and went to teach at a rural school in the village of Pelyaginets, Nikolsky district, Vologda province. It was in this village that Antonina Kolotilova began to show a professional interest in folklore. She always observed northern rituals with interest, listened to songs, learned to lament and magnify herself, and learned the manner of movement of girls and women in round dances, quadrilles, and bows.
Kolotilova, born and raised in the North of Russia, deeply loved her native land, especially the expanse of water meadows at the time of flowering grass.
In 1914, Antonina Yakovlevna got married and moved to Nikolsk. There she works as a teacher in a public school and continues to collect and record local songs, tales, and ditties. Innate artistic talent helped the young girl easily master the culture and style of performance.
After 5 years, the Kolotilovs moved to Veliky Ustyug. It is in this ancient Russian northern city that the history of the Northern Choir begins. Here Antonina Yakovlevna organizes an amateur women's ensemble, which performs in clubs, and a little later at a broadcast radio station that opened in the city. It must be said that the first members of the team were mostly housewives. They easily came to her apartment, organized group singing sessions, and studied the songs that interested them. Listeners welcomed the concerts of the young choristers, and radio performances made the group very popular. Kolotilova’s amateur choir at that time consisted of about 15 people.
“Antonina Yakovlevna fully deserved the love of the people and the glory of herself, for she gave all her strength and thoughts, inexhaustible energy and passion of her soul to folk singing and the choir she created... If this world had not existed wonderful woman– there wouldn’t be our Northern Russian Folk Choir!”(Nina Konstantinovna Meshko)
Birth of the Northern Choir
In 1922, in Moscow, at a recording studio, Antonina Yakovlevna met Mitrofan Pyatnitsky. It was this meeting that became significant for Kolotilova. Acquaintance with the work of Pyatnitsky’s choir served as an impetus for the creation of his own folk choir of northern songs. On March 8, 1926, a small amateur group performed for the first time at the House of Education Workers. This day became the birthday of the Northern Russian Folk Choir.
At first the choir was ethnographic, but then the conditions of stage life required organizational and creative restructuring: a dancing group, accordion players. In 1952, the choir was organized orchestra group through the efforts of composer V.A. Laptev.
The team then consisted of only 12 singers. The costumes were the outfits of mothers and grandmothers - real peasant sundresses and blouses. The first accordionists were the Tryapitsyn brothers Boris and Dmitry, as well as Antonina Yakovlevna’s younger brother Valery Sherstkov. The parts were learned at rehearsals from the voice of the artistic director. Antonina Yakovlevna not only showed how to sing, but also how to move, bow and behave correctly on stage.
The newly created choir was always warmly welcomed at city enterprises, educational institutions, and surrounding villages. The status of an amateur group did not prevent Kolotilova from working seriously, treating the northern song with care and accurately reproducing the manner of its performance! She never changed these requirements in the future. In the first years, the choir performed mainly ancient folk songs, which the singers - former peasant women, indigenous residents of the North - knew from childhood, possessed not only performing skills, but also folk improvisational style. It is not for nothing that the Northern Choir for many years was considered the most ethnographically reliable, consistent in its creative line, preserving the traditions of northern song, and the singers of the choir have always been distinguished by their ability to penetrate the depths of a musical image and embody it in unique beauty.
In 1931, Kolotilova organized a choir in Arkhangelsk on a larger scale, both in the number of participants and in the volume of the repertoire. The concert programs include songs from Pinega and Northern Pomerania, a variety of dances and everyday scenes. Richest musical material Kolotilova collects it herself during trips to various areas of the Arkhangelsk region. At the same time, costumes were purchased for the choir members.
In 1935, while traveling around Pomerania, Antonina Yakovlevna met Marfa Semyonovna Kryukova, a famous storyteller. Kolotilova ensured that Kryukova participated in the first All-Union Radio Festival (1936). Subsequently, Marfa Kryukova traveled with the Northern Choir to Moscow, where, together with Antonina Yakovlevna, she worked on the first tales.
In addition to epics, the choir's programs always included cheerful, dance, comic buffoon songs, which originated from the art of wandering buffoon musicians, and drawn-out lyrical songs, which the singers performed in a touching and soulful manner.
During the war, the group gave many concerts. We moved around in heated vehicles, lived from hand to mouth, did not get enough sleep, and kept fleeing from bombings. We went to the Northern Fleet, Murmansk, the Arctic, the Karelo-Finnish Front, and the Urals. In 1944, we left for the Far East for six months.
Antonina Kolotilova: “I love my native North and I sing songs to it!”
Until 1960, Antonina Yakovlevna remained the artistic director of the group. All the years of Kolotilova’s work were filled with tireless, hard work and creative passion, a sincere desire to preserve and convey to contemporaries the depth of originality and beauty folk art Northern region, constantly searching for new stage forms and performing means. Kolotilova’s life was a true creative feat, and the traditions she laid down are alive in the team.
Source: Prominent Vologda residents: Biographical sketches/
Ed. Council "Vologda Encyclopedia". - Vologda:
VSPU, publishing house "Rus", 2005. - 568 p. - ISBN 5-87822-271-X
In 1960, People's Artist of the RSFSR, State Prize laureate Antonina Yakovlevna Kolotilova handed over the leadership of the group to a graduate of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, an experienced teacher and choirmaster, Nina Konstantinovna Meshko. The new period in the life of the team is marked by the growth of professionalism and stage culture.
Nina Konstantinovna Meshko - People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR named after Glinka, artistic director of the northern folk choir from 1960 to 2008, academician of the IAU, professor of the department of the Russian Academy of Music. Gnessins
“The people rely on their traditional, indigenous culture!”(Nina Meshko)
Nina Meshko was born in 1917 in the village of Malakhovo, Rzhevsky district, Tver region, into a family of teachers, where they loved songs. My mother, Alexandra Vasilyevna, had a wonderful voice, and my father, Konstantin Ivanovich, not only led the school choir, but also loved to sing in the local church.
From the memoirs of N.K. Mieszko: “I don’t remember how old I was, maybe even less than a year... I was wrapped in a downy scarf, and someone was holding me in their arms. In the kitchen, people were sitting around a large wooden table, and everyone was singing. And at the same time I experienced some completely inexplicable bliss...”Little Nina independently mastered playing the piano and studied elementary theory music, solfeggio. And she was so captivated by the world of music that she decided: only music and nothing else! And therefore, without any doubt, Nina Meshko enters School of Music named after the October Revolution, and upon graduation to the Moscow Conservatory at the conducting and choral faculty. It was there that Nina Konstantinovna first heard the Northern Choir. He made a very strong impression on her.
And then Nina Meshko was offered to create a folk choir of the Moscow region. It was after this work that Nina Konstantinovna finally decided: only folk singing and nothing more.
From the memoirs of N.K. Mieszko: “Some kind of obsession literally burst into me to revive folk culture singing. Because she was the tallest! This is such skill! The records speak about this, especially the northern ones.”After the Moscow Choir, Nina Meshko worked with the Russian Folk Song Choir of the All-Union Radio, and then an invitation followed to lead the Northern Choir. The North conquered her and made her fall in love with him.
From the memoirs of N.K. Mieszko: “People who have a wonderful command of the culture of singing, having beautiful, flexible, free voices, can perform a song the way they do in the North.”For almost 50 years, Nina Konstantinovna Meshko headed the Academic Northern Russian Folk Choir, known not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders. She took over this baton from her teacher Antonina Kolotilova. Under Nina Meshko, the choir became a laureate of various international competitions. Meshko was the founder of the Gnessin School of Folk Singing. The Mieszko School has trained a whole galaxy of teachers, choirmasters and folk song performers. Among them are Tatyana Petrova, Nadezhda Babkina, Lyudmila Ryumina, Natalya Boriskova, Mikhail Firsov and many others. Lyudmila Zykina considered her her teacher. Mieszko developed her own choral method, which is now used by her many students.
From the memoirs of N.K. Mieszko: “The art of song is a chronicle of the life of the entire Russian people. It is unique, unusually rich, just as the Russian language is unsurpassedly rich. And then it is alive, continuously developing, renewing itself, reborn from the ashes... The people rely on their traditional, indigenous culture.”
ConfessionN. MeshkoForgive me, forgive me, Lord,
For what I couldn't do
And in the bustle of daytime worries
I didn’t have time to pay off my debts.
I didn't have time to give
A look for someone, a caress for someone,
Some did not ease the pain,
I didn’t tell the others the story.
Before relatives in a sorrowful hour
Didn't repent
And more than once in the bag of a beggar
She didn't give alms.
Loving friends, often
I involuntarily offend myself,
And seeing the sorrows of others,
I'm running away from suffering.
I rush greedily to the sky,
But the burden of worries brings me to the ground.
I want to give you a piece of bread -
And I forget it on the table.
I know everything I should
But she did not fulfill the covenant...
Will you forgive me, Lord,
For everything, for everything, for everything for this?
Irina Lyskova,
Press Secretary of the Northern Choir
The originality of the repertoire and attention to the song richness of the region
The leading group of the group, the women's choir, enchants the listener with its unique timbre, the beauty of its original chants, and the purity of its sound. women's voices a cappella. The choir maintains the continuity of the singing tradition. The Northern Choir, distinguished by its high singing culture and unique identity, consistently maintains traditions and the priority of high spirituality in performance.
The costumes of the Northern Choir deserve special attention. Created by professional costume designers, based on the best samples from museum collections in Arkhangelsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, they represent collective image Russian national costume northerners. During the concert, the artists change costumes several times - appearing before the audience in festive, everyday or stylized costumes created specifically for the concert numbers.
The ensemble consists of three groups - choral, dance and Russian orchestra folk instruments. Back in 1952, an orchestral group was organized as part of the choir through the efforts of composer V.A. Laptev. The sound of the orchestra's Russian folk instruments has amazing sincerity and warmth. The originality of the repertoire and attention to the song richness of the region, modernity and high level performances bring the choir well-deserved success!
The viewer's attention is constantly drawn to the stage: cheerful buffoons alternate with lyrical lingering songs, perky quadrilles replace sedate round dances, a cappella singing alternates with musical works.
The Northern Choir pays special attention to the education of its listener, its viewer, therefore many of its programs are dedicated to children, teenagers and student audiences. The choir actively continues its concert activities in Russia and abroad.
In 1957, the team became a laureate of the Youth and Students Festival in Moscow. This event opened the way for the choir abroad. Has begun new stage In the activities of the collective, in order to achieve recognition abroad, the choir must be special.
Since 1959, the choir has visited Poland, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, China, India, Afghanistan, Japan, Tunisia, and the USA. The team went to Finland with concerts several times and visited Sweden and Norway. Prepared the program “Arctic Rhapsody” together with the folklore dance ensemble “Rimpparemmi” in Finland (Rovaniemi). He worked in 2004 and 2007 in Damascus (Syria), where the Days of Russia were held in the Russian-Syrian center. In 2005, the team was invited by the museum association of the city of Varde (Norway) to celebrate the city's anniversary. In the fall of 2005, the team participates in the festival of Russian culture and cinematography in Nice. “The most intimate corners of the French soul were touched by the artists - northerners from Russia, receiving a powerful emotional response, the audience did not let go of the artists for a long time, applauding with tears in their eyes. This is the triumph of the Russian national folk art!” – this is how the French media assessed the choir’s performances. In 2007, the Northern Choir was officially invited by the Ministry of Culture of Syria, the Representative Office of Roszarubezhcenter in the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian cultural center in Damascus for the folk festival in Bosra.
The Northern Choir is a regular participant in big events in Russia, so in the spring of 2004, the team took part in Easter festival in Moscow, in 2005, together with the Honored Artist of Russia, student of N.K. Meshko T. Petrova and National academic orchestra folk instruments of Russia named after N.P. Osipova took part in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Moscow State University.
The Northern Choir successfully combines the original music of modern composers with traditional folk melodies, achieving stage truth and northern flavor in the performance of the artists. The choir's repertoire includes songs based on poems by: Sergei Yesenin, Olga Fokina, Larisa Vasilyeva, Alexander Prokofiev, Viktor Bokov, Arkhangelsk poets Dmitry Ushakov and Nikolai Zhuravlev, Oleg Dumansky.
Awards and titles of the northern choir
During my 85th year creative life The team was awarded high titles and awards.
1940
The team was given the status of a professional state team.
1944
1st prize at the All-Russian Choir Competition (Moscow)
1957
Laureate and Big Golden medal VI World Festival of Youth and Students (Moscow).
Laureate and 1st degree Diploma (secondary) at the Second All-Union Festival musical theaters, ensembles, choirs (Moscow).
1967
Diploma of the All-Union Review of Professional Artistic Groups.
1971
Laureate of the VI International folklore festival in Tunisia.
1975
Laureate and 1st degree Diploma at the All-Russian Competition of Professional Russian Folk Choirs.
1976
By order of the Minister of Culture, it was awarded the title “Academic”.
1977
Laureate and Gold Medal of the Magdeburg Festival of Soviet-German Friendship.
Laureate of the Russian art group competition.
1999
Laureate of the IV festival “Folklore Spring” and 1 All-Russian festival national culture.
year 2001
Laureate of the International Folklore Festival in Saint-Ghislain (Belgium).
2002
Laureate of the International Folklore Festival in Rovaniemi (Finland).
Laureate of the All-Russian Moscow Festival of National Cultures.
2003
Laureate of the Russian Festival of National Cultures (St. Petersburg).
Laureate of the Congress and Festival of National Cultures of the Peoples of Russia (Nizhny Novgorod).
2007
Laureate of the folk art festival in Bosra (Syrian Arab Republic).
2010
Laureate of the I All-Russian festival of folk singing art “Eternal Origins” (Moscow).
2011
On March 8, the concert program “Northern Choir for All Seasons” celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Northern Choir.
The Northern Choir was awarded the status of “Especially valuable object of cultural heritage of the Arkhangelsk region.”
Laureate of the International Christmas Festival in Italy. As part of the competition, the group received two gold diplomas in the nominations “Stage folklore” and “Sacred singing”.
year 2012
Laureate of the festival of professional choirs “Slavic round dance” (Ryazan).
Organizer of the II All-Russian Festival in memory of the People's Artist of the USSR, artistic director of the group Nina Konstantinovna Meshko.
Leaders of the Northern Choir
Choir director: Natalya GeorgievnaAsadchik.
Artistic director: Honored Artist of Russia, Professor of the Gnessin Academy of Music Svetlana Konopyanovna Ignatieva.
Chief conductor: Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Mikhailovich Kachaev.
Chief choreographer: Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Petrovich Selivanov.
From floor-length arafans, kokoshniks and song art. Russian folk choirs with the title “academic” - as recognition of the highest level of stage performance. Read more about the path of the “populists” at big stage- Natalya Letnikova.
Kuban Cossack Choir
200 years of history. The songs of the Cossacks are either a horse march or a walking sortie to “Marusya, one, two, three...” with a valiant whistle. 1811 is the year the first choral group was created in Russia. Alive historical monument, who carried Kuban history and singing traditions through the centuries Cossack army. At the origins were the spiritual educator of Kuban, Archpriest Kirill Rossinsky and regent Grigory Grechinsky. Since the middle of the 19th century, the group not only participated in divine services, but also gave secular concerts in the spirit of reckless Cossack freemen and, according to Yesenin, “merry melancholy.”
Choir named after Mitrofan Pyatnitsky
A team that has proudly called itself “peasant” for a century now. And let professional artists perform on stage today, and not ordinary vociferous Great Russian peasants from Ryazan, Voronezh and other provinces, the choir represents folk song in amazing harmony and beauty. Every performance causes admiration, just like a hundred years ago. The first concert of the peasant choir took place in the hall of the Noble Assembly. The audience, including Rachmaninov, Chaliapin, Bunin, left the performance shocked.
Northern Folk Choir
A simple rural teacher Antonina Kolotilova lived in Veliky Ustyug. She gathered folk song lovers for handicrafts. On a February evening we sewed linen for an orphanage: “The even, soft light falling from the lightning lamp created a special coziness. And outside the window the February bad weather was raging, the wind whistled in the chimney, rattled the boards on the roof, threw snow flakes at the window. This discrepancy between the warmth of a cozy room and the howling of a snow blizzard made my soul a little sad. And suddenly a song began to sound, sad, drawn-out...” This is how the northern chant sounds - 90 years. Already from the stage.
Ryazan Folk Choir named after Evgeniy Popov
Yesenin's songs. In the homeland of the main singer of the Russian land, his poems are sung. Melodic, piercing, exciting. Where the white birch is either a tree or a girl frozen on the high bank of the Oka. And the poplar is certainly “silver and bright.” The choir was created on the basis of the rural folk ensemble of the village of Bolshaya Zhuravinka, which has been performing since 1932. The Ryazan choir was lucky. The leader of the group, Evgeny Popov, himself wrote music for the poems of his fellow countryman, who had an amazing sense of beauty. They sing these songs as if they are talking about their lives. Warm and gentle.
Siberian folk choir
Choir, ballet, orchestra, children's studio. The Siberian choir is multifaceted and in tune with the frosty wind. Concert program“The Coachman's Tale” is based on musical, song and choreographic material from the Siberian region, like many of the group’s stage sketches. The creativity of Siberians has been seen in 50 countries around the world - from Germany and Belgium to Mongolia and Korea. What they live about is what they sing about. First in Siberia, and then throughout the country. What happened with Nikolai Kudrin’s song “Bread is the Head of Everything,” which was first performed by the Siberian Choir.
Voronezh Russian Folk Choir named after Konstantin Massalinov
Songs in the front line in those hard days, when, it would seem, there is no time for creativity at all. The Voronezh choir appeared in the workers' village of Anna at the height of the Great Patriotic War - in 1943. The first to hear the songs of the new band were in military units. The first big concert - with tears in our eyes - took place in Voronezh, liberated from the Germans. The repertoire includes lyrical songs and ditties that are known and loved in Russia. Including thanks to the most famous soloist of the Voronezh choir - Maria Mordasova.
Volga Folk Choir named after Pyotr Miloslavov
“A steppe wind walks across the stage of the Chatelet Theater and brings us the aroma of original songs and dances,”- wrote the French newspaper L’Umanite in 1958. Samara town introduced the Volga region's song heritage to the French. The performer is the Volga Folk Choir, created by the decision of the Government of the RSFSR in 1952 by Pyotr Miloslavov. A leisurely and soulful life along the banks of the great Volga and on stage. Ekaterina Shavrina began her creative career in the team. The song “Snow White Cherry” was performed for the first time by the Volga Choir.
Omsk Folk Choir
Bear with a balalaika. The emblem of the famous team is well known both in Russia and abroad. “Love and pride of the Siberian land,” as critics dubbed the group on one of their foreign trips. “The Omsk Folk Choir cannot only be called a restorer and custodian of old folk songs. He himself is the living embodiment of folk art of our days,”- wrote the British The Daily Telegraph. The repertoire is based on Siberian songs recorded by the founder of the group, Elena Kalugina, half a century ago and bright pictures from life. For example, the suite “Winter Siberian Fun”.
Ural Folk Choir
Performances at the fronts and in hospitals. The Urals not only provided the country with metal, but also raised morale with whirlwind dances and round dances, the richest folklore material of the Ural land. Under the Sverdlovsk Philharmonic they united amateur groups the surrounding villages of Izmodenovo, Pokrovskoye, Katarach, Laya. “Our genre is alive”, - they say in the team today. And they consider saving this life main task. Like the famous Ural “Seven”. “Drobushki” and “barabushki” have been on stage for 70 years. Not a dance, but a dance. Eager and daring.
Orenburg Folk Choir
Down scarf as part of a stage costume. Fluffy lace intertwined with folk songs and in a round dance - as part of the life of the Orenburg Cossacks. The team was created in 1958 to preserve the unique culture and rituals that exist “on the edge of vast Rus', along the banks of the Urals.” Every performance is like a performance. They perform not only the songs that the people composed. Even at the dances literary basis. “When the Cossacks Cry” is a choreographic composition based on a story by Mikhail Sholokhov from the life of village residents. However, every song or dance has its own story.
From April 19 to April 22, 2013 The choir participated in the All-Russian festival-competition of musical and artistic creativity “Open Pages” in Tula.
From May 7 to May 11, 2014, the Russian song choir “Springs of the Soul” became a diploma winner at the festival of vocal, choral, instrumental and theatrical creativity “Land of Magnolias” in Sochi.
October 2, 2016 - WINNER of the 1st degree of the All-Russian competition of talents and talents “Life in a Fairy Tale”.
Meetings of team members are held regularly to celebrate important dates life of the country, public and Orthodox holidays, birthdays of team members.
The basis of the creative activity of the group is, of course, the promotion of Russian folk songs, which, like a balm, falls on the hearts of our viewers, wherever the group performs.
This group is unique in its uniqueness in that its repertoire includes folk songs of Russia, Ukraine, songs of contemporary composers and even romances. There are many songs in the band's repertoire about native land and about the Motherland in general.
The Russian Song Choir was created in 1971 at the Belgorod Vitamin Plant under the direction of N.I. Chendevoy. The choir consisted mainly of workers and technical workers of the plant. Over the years, it rejuvenated itself, and by 1992, only a small number of the original members remained in the choir. But the choristers kept in touch with each other. In October 2002, the choir resumed its activities under the direction of Honored Artist of Russia M.I. Belousenko.
The choir began its concert activities in May 2003 and has already short term gave a large number of concerts in front of audiences in Belgorod and the region. The team is in great demand and is constantly being replenished with new members. The choir's repertoire is constantly expanding. In 2004 and 2007 the team became a laureate of the International Festival of Russian Folk Art in Ukraine “Talitsa” (Kharkov). The Russian Song Choir is a laureate and diploma winner of many International, All-Russian, regional and regional competitions and festivals, and a participant in all significant events of the city and region. Has the title “People's Collective”.
On March 26-27, 2011, the II International festival-competition of choirs and vocalists “Silver Wind”. All vocal nominations were presented at this festival: folk, pop academic vocals, solo, ensemble and choral singing. “Folk group” Russian song choir “Springs of the Soul” in the “folk choir” category was awarded a 1st degree Laureate diploma and, as the best choir group, was awarded the Grand Prix.
On April 8-10, 2011, the television International Vocal Art Festival took place in Yalta (Ukraine). The Russian song choir “Springs of the Soul” was awarded the Cup and the 1st degree Laureate diploma in the “folk vocal” category, in Once again confirming his high level and love for Russian folk song.
April 28, 2012 at concert hall The Belgorod State Folk Art Center hosted a festive concert of the Russian song choir “Springs of the Soul”, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the collective’s creative activity. The concert program was attended by: Russian dance ensemble “Bylina” under the direction of Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation V.I. Belykh, vocal and choreographic ensemble “Belogorye” under the direction of Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation N.I. Chendevoy, ensemble ballroom dance“Grace” (director - Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation V.A. Babkin), Cossack song ensemble “Sisters and Cossacks” under the direction of V.M. Dolgosheeva. The choir “Springs of the Soul” performed Russian, Ukrainian and Cossack folk songs, songs by modern composers, and songs by Belgorod composer Alexander Grigorievich Syomka. The enthusiastic applause of the audience sounded non-stop. At the end of the celebration, the team was awarded Thanksgiving letters from the Department of Culture of the Belgorod Region, the Belgorod State Folk Art Center for many years of active participation in amateur artistic creativity and in connection with the 10th anniversary of the creation of the team.