Points of Russia: Exploring the Land of the Tsars

Exploring the World of Russian Music From the classic works of Tchaikovsky, to contemporary hits of popular artists like Timati and Emin, Russian music is diverse, unique and inspiring. As one of the world’s oldest cultures, Russia has a long and rich musical tradition. In this article, we will explore the various elements of Russian music and look at the wide range of sounds and genres that have grown from its roots. Music has always been an important part of Russian culture. As far back as the ninth century, ancient Russian songs were being written and sung by the people of the time. This tradition of singing and composing has continued down through the centuries and Russian music has seen many changes and influences from foreign cultures. Today, this traditional music has been adapted with newer styles and instruments. Classical music is a major part of Russian musical culture. Perhaps the most famous composer of this era is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. His famous works contain incr...

Exploring Slavic Culture in Russia As the world’s largest country, Russia’s expanse spans eleven time zones and houses a variety of cultures, languages, and peoples. It is home to numerous ethnic and linguistic groups, including its own Slavic majority, as well as Finno-Ugric, Turkic, and German minorities. Fortunately, the vibrant cultural landscape of the Slavic people of Russia can still be found today in religious traditions, cuisine, music, and literature. From the hearty borscht and dumplings of northern Russia, to the passionate troikas of southern Russia, Slavic culture continues to make its mark in the country even as the world around it changes and evolves. Where Do Slavic Culture Come From? Though many of the cultural aspects that identify Slavic people are quite ancient, much of the Slavic culture present in Russia today was born during the 10th century AD. Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Eastern parts of Europe were conquered by the Varangian tribes, le...