In her book, Sargeant pays attention to discussing the role of salons and music societies in the cultural and social life of St. Petersburg in the nineteenth century. It is important to note that the spread of Russian music tendencies in the country depended on the activities of salons, societies, and circles known as ‘kruzhok’ because representatives of different social classes were interested in music, and they shared the information about popular musicians and compositions actively (Sargeant 22). It is an interesting fact that the activities of aristocratic salons were extremely important for the music sphere because influential persons could promote preferred musicians, composers, and singers. As a result, professional musicians and amateurs were often known in different circles, and the information about them spread quickly.
From this point, the development of the Russian music in the nineteenth century depended on trends adopted in elites’ circles, as well as in the street music. The impact of the public’s opinion on the growth of musical tendencies seemed to be quite unique because debates in the circles could influence the further development of trends and perception of the certain composition (Sargeant 24). One more important feature is the popularity of home concerts among different elite circles. It is interesting to note that the musicians who participated in home concerts of the nobility or in salons’ concerts had a chance to become famous in St. Petersburg. In addition, the activities of some aristocratic families in the sphere of promoting music among the public were very significant, and they contributed to creating the Philharmonic Society and the Symphonic Society that added to the development of specific music tendencies in Russia.
References
Sargeant, Lynn. Harmony and Discord: Music and the Transformation of Russian Cultural Life. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.