Its a pleasure browsing through the veritable cornucopia of interesting musical resources available on the intriguing 'Soviet Music' website http://www.sovmusic.ru/english/index.phpOf particular interest is the huge choice of international progressive music contained in the 'Internationale' section, expecting at best a handful of standards, it was delightful to find that the recordings on offer were both wide ranging and in many cases completely impossible to find elsewhere.Some recordings which may be of interest to readers include the following, A Las Barricadas ! A spanish song from the times of
the Spanish Civil war, http://download.sovmusic.ru/m/barricad.mp3Others may be intrigued to listen to Paul Robeson's recording of an English translation of the Soviet National Anthem
http://download.sovmusic.ru/m/ussr_eng.mp3The great Italian Partisan song 'Bella Ciao' is also one that many will be delighted to hear again,
The stirring music and lyrics of Eisler and Brecht in the 'United Front' Song 'Einheitslied'
The Irish classic recording of 'Labour's Call'
Those active in the fight against Apartheid will welcome the chance to listen to the great ANC anthem 'N Kosi Sikelele Africa'
The struggle in Latin America and in particular Chile is represented by a great recording of 'Venceremos' by Inti Illimani
http://download.sovmusic.ru/m/vencer1.mp3Some will also recall hearing the great Chinese song 'The East is Red' and welcome the chance to hear it again
http://download.sovmusic.ru/m/china_07.mp3
As well as many interesting but less well known tracks such as 'Stalingrado' an Italian song about the battle of Stalingrad
As well as many interesting but less well known tracks such as 'Stalingrado' an Italian song about the battle of Stalingrad
Another intriguing aspect of the site is the large collection of soviet era posters, and texts and recordings of speeches. The introductory comments by the site's creator for foreign visitors are also interesting,
"The music submitted on this site - is an evident sample of a totally new culture, which completely differs from all that, with what Hollywood and MTV supply us so much. This culture, being free from the cult of money , platitude, violence and sex, was urged to not indulge low bents of a human soul but to help the person to become culturally enriched and to grow above himself. Cheerful and optimistically by its nature, the Soviet music was spreading a cult of friendship, collectivism, mutual assistance and respect to the working people....These songs are a monument to our not too distant past, during which USSR tried to build a new socialist society. It was an interesting time, a time not only of terror and the Gulags, but of "The Great Projects", enthusiasm, victories, and faith in a "bright future for all of humanity."......"Please don't be hasty to abuse this site with harsh words and then go off to a favourite porn site. No one attempts to bind you with his/her views or persuasions. This site only serves as a reminder of a past epoch, of a country, which independently and heroically attempted to build a "bright future". This site reminds us, as well, of its people."
Well, thanks for access to this great site my friend , and for the sentiments expressed in the above comments which eloquently express why the culture and music found on this site is worth visiting. Optimistic? definitely, naive? quite possibly, irrelevant? absolutely not, so long as mankind aspires to a world free from exploitation this music will possess an abundance of urgency and relevance for us all.
