Swedish Trace in the History of Musical Culture of Siberia. The Tobol Manuscript

Main Article Content

Anna P. Nedospasova

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the study of the period of music history of Russia, primarily of Siberia, which is limited by the time of the Great North War between Sweden and Russia (1700-1721). It covers military and secular music which existed in Russia during that time. The main subject of study is the manuscript of oboist Gustav Blidstroem who served in the orchestra of Charles XII and was taken in captivity near Poltava in 1709. The manuscript named «Tobolskij» dates back to 1715. This source was previously unknown to the Russian scholars. It has been discovered in 1999. It contains the samples of instrumental music performed in Siberian cities in the first third of the 18th century. The unique finding raised the interest to the circumstances of the arrival of Swedish captives in Siberia, their destinies and cultural activities. The author relies not only on the Russian literature on that subject, but also on the works of Swedish musicologists which have become available to the Russian readers. In particular, the author provides the information about the Western European military musical instruments and performing traditions which, through the Swedish musical culture, were borrowed by the Russian musicians. The author also clarifies the way Swedish prisoners influenced the development of Siberian musical culture. This is quite a new aspect of music history which sheds light on the beginnings of Russian instrumental tradition of the 18th century.

Keywords: The Northern War, Swedish prisoners, Poltava, Tobolskij manuscript, Gustaf Blidsrtroem, oboist, military music, 18 c., Siberian music culture, March, Menuet, Polonaise, La Folia

Article Details

How to Cite
Nedospasova, A. P. (2010). Swedish Trace in the History of Musical Culture of Siberia. The Tobol Manuscript. Music Scholarship / Problemy Muzykal’noj Nauki, 6(1), 66–70. Retrieved from https://musicscholar.ru/index.php/PMN/article/view/600
Section
Musical Cultures of Russia
Author Biography

Anna P. Nedospasova, Novosibirsk State Conservatory (Academy) named after M. I. Glinka

Anna P. Nedospasova teaches at the Piano Department of Novosibirsk Conservatory, where she is now a post-graduate student at the Department of Music History