| Music of Russia:
Caucasian music |
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| Genres | Bards - Classical music - Hip hop - Jazz - Opera - Rock |
| Awards | MTV Russia Music Awards |
| Charts | |
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| National anthem | "National Anthem of Russia" |
| Caucasian music | |
| Abkhazia - Republic of Adygea - Armenia - Astrakhan - Azerbaijan - Chechnya - Dagestan - Georgia - Ingushetia - Kalmykia - Krasnodar - Ossetia - Rostov | |
| Russian regions and ethnicities | |
| Republic of Adygea - Altai - Astrakhan - Bashkortostan - Buryatia - Belarusian - Chechnya - Chukotka - Chuvashia - Dagestan - Evenkia - Ingushetia - Irkutsk - Kaliningrad - Kalmykia - Kamchatka - Karelia - Khakassia - Khantia-Mansia - Komi Republic - Krasnodar - Mari El - Mordovia - Nenetsia - Ossetia - Rostov - Ethnic Russian - Sakha - Sakhalin - Tatarstan - Tuva - Udmurtia - Ukrainian | |
The music of Adygea has a long history. Adygea is a republic in Russia. The Republic's national anthem was written by Iskhak Shumafovich Mashbash; music—by Umar Khatsitsovich Tkhabisimov.
Recorded Adygean music began prior to World War I, when folk musicians across the North Caucasus and Central Asia were commercially recorded. Many of these musicians, including the Adygean Magomet Khfgfudzh, an accordionist, have become cultural heroes to modern inhabitants.
Adygean music is closely related to Kabardian, Cherkess and Shapsugh music. The four groups are the main constituents of the Adiga (Circassian) nation. In the olden days, the musical lore was preserved and disseminated by the roving minstrels (Jegwak'we).
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In recent years, Adygea has seen the formation of a number of new musical institutions. These include two orchestras, one of which (Russkaya Udal), uses folk instruments (the other is the Adygeya Republic National Symphony Orchestra), and a chamber music theater. The Nalmes ensemble is a folk dance organization that has been dedicated to promoting and preserving Adygean music and dance since 1936.
The Adigean State Folk Song Ensemble ‘Yislhamiy’—‘Yislhamiy’ («Ислъамый») is one of a number of folk song groups that keep the old bard traditions alive. It boasts of a varied and rich repertoire of ancient and traditional songs. The Ensemble’s mission also includes the rearrangement of folk songs and chants into modern formats to bestow contemporary relevance on them without sacrificing their authenticity and historical value. The Ensemble displayed its artistic wares in many festivals held in countries across Europe and Asia, and made several tours in countries where Circassian diasporas are concentrated. It celebrated its 15th anniversary in January 2006. Its founder and artistic director is Aslhencheriy Nexay, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation. The choreography of the Ensemble is designed by Viktoria Yedij. The Ensemble boasts of a number of world-class singers, including Susanna X’wak’we, Shemsudin Qwmiqw, and Rim Schawe.
Aslhencheriy Nexay—Nexay, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, graduated in composition from the Tbilisi Conservatoire in 1983. He composed the first Adigean opera ‘The Sound of Distant Thunder’ and wrote a number of songs and symphonies. He founded the Adigean State Folk Song Ensemble ‘Yislhamiy’ in 1991.
Zchiw Song Ensemble—Zchiw (Жъыу; literally: Chorus) is a newly established Adigean group that utilizes ancient musical instruments (no accordion or baraban), and plays authentic songs of the bards as they would have been heard prior to the 19th century. Its directors and principal personnel are Zamudin Ghwch’e and Zawir Neghwey, both singers of considerable talent. Neghwey also plays the shich’epshine (Circassian violin). Other singers of note include Artur Abida.
In the early 1990s a symphonic orchestra, a chamber musical theatre and a professional orchestra of folk musical instruments were set up in Adigea. In November 1994, the Chamber Musical Theatre marked its debut by staging Jacques Offenbach’s operetta Jeanne Cries, Jean Laughs. This was the first time ever that an operetta was staged in Adigea. The season ended with the ballet The Young Terpsichore performed to music by Tchaikovsky, Minkus, Saint-Saens, Bellini and Chopin. The curtain drawer of the following season was Mozart’s opera Theatre’s Director, the first professional opera to be staged by local talent. The musicians and performers were graduates of the State Theatre School, Maikop Art School, and St. Petersburg, Rostov and Tbilisi conservatoires.
The Union of Composers of the Republic of Adigea was established in 1992 under the leadership of Qaplhen Tiqwe. Member composers include Cheslav Anzeroqwe (Anzarokov), Aslhencheriy Nexay, Alla Sokolova, Bayzet Qeghezezh (Kagazezhev), Aslhen Gwt’e (Gotov), Tatyana Sukhova, and Murat X’wpe (Khupov). Their compositions and publications are detailed (in Russian) on the website of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Adigea.