Vasily Agapkin

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Vasily Ivanovich Agapkin (Russian: Васи́лий Ива́нович Ага́пкин; February 3, 1884 – October 29, 1964)^[1] was a Soviet Russian military orchestra conductor, composer, and author of the well-known march "Farewell of Slavianka" (written 1912).

Agapkin was born in Tambov in 1884. In 1912-15 he studied at the Tambov musical school and later served in the army. After the revolution of 1917, Agapkin became a functionary of the NKVD. He was the leader of the NKVD's orchestra.

Agapkin lead the combined military orchestra during the famous Red Square Parade in Moscow on November 7, 1941. "Farewell of Slavianka" was one of the four marches that were played in that Parade. He also led the orchestra during the 1945 parade.

His music has appeared in many films including 72 Meters (1986).

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