Holidays of Russia - Day of celebration of the anniversary of the creation of the Military Band Service of the RF Armed Forces

The first court brass band appeared in Rus' in 1547 under Ivan the Terrible. In it, the musicians played pity pipes, bagpipes, pipe flutes and shortened trumpets of the “Vladimir Horn” type. Army orchestras, consisting of European-style wind and percussion instruments, appeared in Russia in 1711 by decree of Peter I. The Tsar approved a staff of military musicians, who were taught in schools by teachers from Germany. The classes were recruited from among soldiers' children. Bands performed gallant marches during drill training for soldiers, and played during ceremonies and military rituals. Since the 19th century. Army musicians and conductors began performing concerts, donating the proceeds to the needs of disabled soldiers. The first regiments in which orchestras appeared were Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky. During the reign of Catherine II, the number of employees in regular military units performing music reached 100 people. Under Paul I, the number of orchestra players was greatly reduced. In 1873-1884, N.A. made a great contribution to the development of music for the navy. Rimsky-Korsakov. Thanks to him, the repertoire of the Admiralty and other orchestras of the Kronstadt port expanded: overtures, polkas, mazurkas, medleys, waltzes and fantasies appeared. This innovation was adopted by field musicians. A diverse repertoire makes military bands a welcome guest at city festivals and other public events today. Military units consisting of musicians received a new round of development after the October Revolution. In 1921, the Red Army established the Bureau of Military Bands of the Red Army and Navy. In connection with Order No. 194 of the Revolutionary Military Council, the Regulations and staffing of the unit were approved. The main task of the Bureau was to organize musical support for all areas of combat and political training of the Red Army. January 14, the date of its formation according to the new style, became the Day of the Creation of the Military Band Service of the RF Armed Forces. The role of music in raising the morale of the army is difficult to overestimate. The Scottish band, consisting of drummers and pipers, led the attack ahead of the regiment until the First World War. Napoleon Bonaparte admitted that the reason for his unsuccessful campaign against Moscow in 1812 was severe frosts and military music. Choral polonaises, triumphal marches and hussar songs contributed to the rise of patriotism and national consciousness of Russian society. The first military brass bands appeared in the Middle Ages. The main musical instruments were bugles, bagpipes, horns, flutes and drums. The performed marches and fanfares were used to control the army, boost morale on the battlefield, and entertain the soldiers after the battle. Horse bands served artillery and cavalry formations. Musicians played national anthems, marches and patriotic songs. The third type of military bands uses keyboard trumpets, brass and woodwind instruments. They traditionally staff units of musicians serving in the RF Armed Forces. Performers of military melodies play drums, timpani and cymbals, saxophones and bassoons, horns, trumpets and trombones, sousaphones and euphoniums, glockenspiels and other instruments. All professional musicians who continue the glorious traditions of the past are annually congratulated on January 14 on the Day of the Creation of the Military Band Service.