Despite the cold weather hundreds of Muscovites and guests of the capital came to Sokol’niki park on June 9 to listen to the Military Band of the Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Military bands’ concerts in Moscow’s parks and gardens have become a traditional spring/summer season present not only for the Muscovites but also for the tourists. The performances are being held within the annual “Military Bands in the Parks” program which is being realized and thought out by the Directorate of the International Military Music Festival “Spasskaya Tower” sponsored by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and Government of Moscow.
The march “Radost’ Pobedy” (“Triumph of the Victory”) opened the performance of the military band in Sokol’niki park. With the first stroke of the conductor’s stick it became obvious that nobody would be disappointed that evening. The musicians had prepared a lot of surprises both for children and adults.
“It’s rather gloomy today, but there is a song in our repertoire that even in the rainiest weather makes everybody smiling”, told the audience the head of the Military Band military conductor Major Filip Samonin before performing the song by Vladimir Shainskiy “Ulybka” (“The Smile”).
The Band performed a lot of old waltzes, war years’ songs and the definite hit of all the concerts — the song “Smuglyanka” which is always warmly received by the viewers. But the repertoire was not limited only by that, it included a whole layer of music pieces from various epochs: from the “Hussar March” and jazz compositions to Frank Sinatra and modern days’ hits, from the iconic 70s to the vibrant 90s. Together with the band viewers accomplished a “Music Walk around the Globe” that was the name of the melodies’ potpourri performed by the musicians which as well included music pieces written by the legendary military bandmasters Alexander and Boris Alexandrov and Valery Khalilov.
There was no way to stand still that evening. The old waltz “Beryozka” (“The Birch”) opened the dancing venue. Dancers of all ages were waltzing around to the strains of the wind music. Many of them participate in the “Moscow Longevity” program carried out by Cultural Centers of the Department of Culture of the City of Moscow. Anyone willing can subscribe and become part of the program.
Another surprise awaited the audience at the end of the musical marathon. The Military Band’s conductor invited from among the viewers a little boy Anatoliy to stand alongside and adjourn the concert by performing the march “Farewell of Slavianka”.
“Every performance of the band is not only a feast in honor of music. It is also a chance for the musicians and their audience for becoming closer. Every year the Band of the Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation takes part in the „Spasskaya Tower“ Festival and „Military Bands in the Parks“ program which allow us once again meeting with our viewers and inviting them into the world of music”, noticed the conductor of the Military Band Filip Samonin.
Twenty five musicians of the Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation transformed that cool evening in the capital into bright and colorful marathon of melodies.
The “Military Bands in the Parks” program continues its way into Moscow’s parks and gardens. Next Saturday, June 16, the Ermitazh Garden awaits all the admirers of good music and invites them to listen to the Central
Military Band of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The concert is going to be held onstage of the