Celebrating Russian Music Genres
Celebrating Russian Music Genres For centuries, Russia has been a prolific source of vibrant and diverse music, ranging from classical works to modern pop and rock. With such an extensive and inspiring musical landscape, celebrating Russian music is an endeavour that should never end. Russian music reaches back to the 10th century, with the earliest written record of Russian music having been recorded in the 11th century. Since then, Russia has developed a rich musical culture – with spirituals, classical music, jazz, rock, and other musical forms having a long history in Russia. One of the most beloved and celebrated genres of traditional Russian folk music is skomorokh music. This genre takes its name from the skomorokhs – or 'skomorokh minstrels' – who performed this music in the 16th and 17th centuries. The skomorokhs were professional musicians who would roam the countryside, singing stories, jokes, and theatrical sketches. Typical musical instruments included the balal...