Features of the development of music education in pre-revolutionary Irkutsk

Abstract

Irkutsk, the capital of Eastern Siberia, called by the press “Eastern Paris”, “Siberian Petersburg”, “Siberian Athens”, has its own characteristics of the development of musical culture and education. Russian settlers from Moscow, Ustyug, Yarensk, Pinega, Sol’ Vychegodskaya, Mezen, Pskov, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Novgorod land, Vologda and others brought their cultural characteristics to their new place of residence. Music was present in all spheres of life of Irkutsk residents: folk, spiritual and secular. In the 18th century Public education begins to develop. Theological education, namely the first Irkutsk School, played a special role in the emergence of systematic music education in our region. In 1738, the Latin language and church singing were introduced into school education; this event can be considered as the starting point of official music education in school institutions in Irkutsk. Later, when new parochial schools were opened in the Irkutsk province, church choral singing was included in the program. Choir directors were trained at the Irkutsk Seminary and the Znamensky Monastery. In the teacher's seminary they were taught notated singing and music, playing musical instruments (mainly the violin), and teaching music. The Girls' Institute of Emperor Nicholas I (1845-1920) was a center of musical education; for more than half of century it represented a music school for Irkutsk residents. The first music school in Irkutsk was private, it was opened by A.Yu. Ginita-Pilsudski, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. The school of E.G. Gorodetskaya, R.A. Ivanov and M.N. Sinitsyn operated for a long time; it educated many good musicians who played a significant role in the musical life of Irkutsk.