N. Karasev’s courses in church singing in Vyatka (1903–1904) as an example of a regional musical and educational initiative

Abstract

This article is devoted to the church singing courses held in the city of Vyatka in 1903 and 1904. Short–term singing courses are one of the forms of musical and pedagogical education, which was widespread in Russia in late XIX - early XX century. The organizers of the courses and teachers at them were famous musical figures. The purpose of this article is to expand information about church singing courses in Russia and the musical and pedagogical activities of A.N.Karasev. Karasev, an outstanding music teacher, regent and author of numerous manuals on church singing, was invited to Vyatka to organize folk singing activities. During 1903 and 1904, he organized three streams of singing courses in the city. The main objectives of the courses were to train the leaders of folk choirs for the Vyatka province and to train teachers to teach church singing in schools. Teachers and regents from different counties of the Vyatka province came to the courses. There were no professional musicians among them. During the courses, students studied music theory, learned to sing by notes, trained to manage a choir, studied spiritual and secular chants, and learned to play the violin. Theoretical classes were closely connected with practice. In total, about 300 people were trained at the courses. Students of the courses have achieved great success in a relatively short time. Their achievements are confirmed by the results of final exams, surveys about their subsequent activities, testimonies of clergy and people who checked schools. The article discusses in detail the circumstances of the emergence of courses, as well as some organizational and pedagogical features. Vyatka singing courses are an example of a regional musical and pedagogical initiative, the successful implementation of which became possible thanks to the support of representatives of state, church and educational institutions, the pedagogical system and the work of the course leader, the motivation of the listeners.