The melody of the anthem of the Soviet Union, and then the anthem of Russia, is perhaps one of the most majestic compositions, which, with its powerful rifts in the distant 1943, united people to fight against fascism, and in peacetime repeatedly shook sports arenas. The author of this immortal music is a holder of numerous state awards, including Major General Alexander Alexandrov, who was awarded the honorary title People's Artist of the USSR.
Youth
Alexandrov comes from a peasant family that lived in the Russian outback. He was born in 1883 in the Ryazan region. At the age of eight, the boy sang in the choir of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Seven years later, he entered the Court Choir, graduating with the rank of choir director in 1900. He studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, but illness and financial difficulties forced him to give up classes. He wrote his first work, the symphony "Death and Life", in Tver, where he worked as a choirmaster, and then directed the musicalschool. Alexander managed to continue his studies only at the age of sixteen, when he entered the Moscow Conservatory. Later, he became a teacher at this educational institution and received the status of a professor.
In different years he worked in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, was the dean of the pedagogical and military conductor faculties, headed the choral department. In addition, he taught at a technical school, worked at the Chamber Theater, and he was also invited to advise on productions in musical theaters, for example, at MAMT.
Music contribution
The co-organizer of the famous Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble, which toured all over the world, was also Major General Alexander Alexandrov. He toured with the ensemble throughout the Soviet Union, even visited several foreign countries. He was received abroad so warmly that in 1937 he received the Grand Prix of the World Exhibition in Paris.
And yet he wrote his most famous works (and some of the most outstanding) during the Great Patriotic War and dedicated them to uniting the people in the struggle for the sake of life. He created many songs that were included in the music library of the best selection of those years. In particular, it was Major General Alexandrov who wrote the music for the songs “Holy War”, “Indestructible and Legendary”, “On the Campaign! On a hike! and others.
The anthem of the USSR
In the turning point for the Soviet army in 1943, the leader of the USSR Stalin comes to the conclusion that the country needs an anthem that inspires anduniting all citizens, front-line soldiers and home front workers in a single struggle against the fascist, in the struggle to the bitter end.
The question of the anthem in the country was raised in the 1930s. In Soviet Russia, the French "Internationale" was used as the main state song, praising the Paris Commune. The Soviet leadership announced a competition to write the anthem. As part of the event, Major General Alexander Alexandrov created the "Hymn of the Bolshevik Party". Among the contestants were also his son Boris Alexandrov and Dmitry Shostakovich. However, preference was given to the music of the major general. The authors of the words were the poets Sergei Mikhalkov and Gabriel El-Registan.
The created anthem was performed for the first time on the first night of the New Year 1944. However, the solemn song was heard on the radio throughout the country for the first time only in April. With the change of regime, the question of the national anthem arose again. Only in 2000, it was decided to leave the same immortal melody of Aleksandrov.
Major General Alexander Alexandrov died in Germany, in 1946, on tour in Berlin.
Composer Memorial
Major-General Alexander Alexandrov made a significant contribution to the development of musical army culture. After his death, the ensemble was named after the composer, then the school in his native village of Plakhino. A museum was also opened here, however, only in 2003. In Moscow, the State Concert Hall was named after him.
In addition, a memorial sign to Aleksandrov was installed on the Moscow Avenue of Stars. Music scholarships are named after him. In recent years there have beenseveral monuments to the composer were erected at once: one in Moscow, in honor of the 130th anniversary of his birth, a year later, a memorial was erected in Ryazan. The Russian Ministry of Culture, together with the Union of Composers, has established two medals (gold and silver) for the best patriotic song.
State award
The military composer was also awarded by the Russian Ministry of Defense. In 2005, the department established a state award - the medal "Major General Alexander Alexandrov". Military, civil, working in the Armed Forces system, veterans can become cavaliers. In addition, Russian citizens or citizens of foreign countries who have assisted in the development of army and military-patriotic music can also apply for the award.
It was Major General Alexandrov who made an invaluable contribution to the development of this musical direction - the medal in the Armed Forces, named after him, recognizes the merits of composers and musicians working to create strong and inspiring compositions.
On the obverse of the medal, made of metal in the color of gold, in the center, against the background of ascending rays, there is a portrait of the composer. Below it is a lyre and laurel branches radiating from it on both sides of the medal. The inscription "Major General Alexander Alexandrov" is engraved along the upper edge. On the reverse side, in the center, there is an impromptu unfolded scroll, on which the phrase is engraved: "For contribution to the development of the militarymusic". A lyre is also depicted on top, attributes of military marches are visible from behind the scroll: pipes, drums, as well as banners and weapons. The inscription: "The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation" follows the upper and lower edges.
