Russian Travel Guide

Коллекция Russian Travel Guide. Природа. Краснодарский край

The horn orchestra of Russia

The Horn Orchestra of Russia promotes the tradition of national music while playing quite unique instruments – horns. In Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was to the sounds of these soulful, captivating musical horns that emperors were crowned, and events such as great masquerades, diplomatic meetings and military marches were held. Throughout most of the 20th century horn music was believed to be a disappearing craft and the art of making the horns was considered lost. It was only at the beginning of the 21st century that listeners came to hear these sounds again. Two-hundred years ago this musical miracle with its deep, velvety sound was dubbed “the Russian organ” in countries abroad and to this day, there is no instrument and sound comparable to Russia’s special horn.

The decembrist revolutionaries in Siberian exile

In December of 1825 in St. Petersburg members of a secret society of nobles and officers led a rebellion advocating for the establishment of a democratic government in Russia. The rebellion failed. Five of those who headed the conspiracy were executed while more than a hundred others were sent to labour camps in Siberia. Although they were unable to successfully change the way the country was run, the Decembrists did have an effect on the way future generations thought. As for the stories of those who were sent off to Siberia — paradoxically enough, this punishment ended up in some ways to be a blessing. Many of these people’s thoughts and ideas were given the chance to develop and their memory lives on today.