Art is the best part of cultural live of Great Britain and Russia, isn’t it?
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INTRODUСTION
Culture - the customs beliefs, art, music and the other products of human thought made by a particular group of people at a particular time . This definition gives the Longman Dictionary of English language and culture. Culture results in activity of a man, buildings, art, and law, moral. It is competence, ability, intellect, world outlook (philosophy), intercourse of people, traditions and customs.
Cultural life of Great Britain and Russia is rather rich, different and has deep historical roots. It passed several main stages in its development.
In 988 Russia became a powerful and progressive Christian state. Alongside with Christianity it adopted the Byzantium culture and artistic style developed through centuries.
In the 18th century tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was famous for his hatred towards the popular Russian culture. Peter the Great reforms gave rise to a new stage of cultural development in Russia. It concerns with the very essence of artistic perception of the world and a human being.
The Saxon King Alfred encouraged the arts and culture. The chief debt owed to him by English literature is for his translations and commentaries on Latin works. Art, culture and literature flourished during the Elizabethan age, during the reign of Elizabeth I; it was the period of English domination of the oceans. It was at this time that William Shakespeare lived.
It’s difficult to embrace the diversity of cultural development of countries, with rich history so we will stop our attention on Art – the best part of cultural heritage - fine art, music and theatre.
Art is the creation and expression of everything that is beautiful. It gives pleasure to mind through senses and feelings. It appeals to the heart and mind of man. The lust for beauty and spiritual perfection is in all of us. We learn a lot by seeing the world through other people’s eyes. Lust for art is the beginning of creativity and creativity is something we need in any job. The person who can appreciate art is the creator himself.
Art is the source of information and delight. It is a way of escape from boredom, sorrow, troubles and grief. Art makes a person better. It helps us understand that the world is full of interesting things.
Therefore it would be interesting to highlight the following issues:
- some facts from the history of Russian and Britain painting;
- the first Russian аnd Britain Art Galleries;
- music and musicians;
- the national musical instruments of the Russian and Scots;
- the Theatre Festivals in Britain and Russia;
A few from history of Russia painting of the 17-19 centuries
In the history of Russian fine arts one can distinguish two periods. Peter the Great reforms marked the border between them. The difference is extremely deep and concerns the very essence of artistic perception of the world and a human being.
In Old Russia painting appeared and developed in a close connection with icon worshiping, the basis of which is the doctrine of Incarnation.
Since the middle of the 16th century icon painting undergoes the influence of Western fine arts.
In the second half of the 17th century icons of so-called 'fryag painting' appear. They included the elements of Western European painting: oil colors and great verisimilitude in depicting people and nature. The most prominent representative of the trend is Simon Ushakov (the 17th century). The first attempts of creating a temporal portrait can also be referred to that time.
In the 18th century and at the beginning if the 19th century fine arts in Russia, following cultural needs of the society, experiences all the main stages of Western art: Baroque, Classicism, and Romanticism. Foreign painters and sculptors invited to Russia play an important role but very talented home masters appear in the time of Elisabeth I.
In the middle of the 18th century academic manner becomes a leading
trend in painting. It is characterized by strict manner of painting,
by following certain rules in composition, by some conditional character
of coloring, by making use of the plots from the Bible, from ancient
history and mythology. However, the highest achievement of the epoch
is not a historical painting but a portrait
(I.Argunov, A.Antropov, F.
The flourishing of an academic school refers to the first half of the 19th century. K.Bryullov's canvas are characterized by the combination of academic Classicism with Romanticism, by novelty of plots, by the theatrical effect of plastic and lighting, by complex composition and by brilliant virtuosity of a painter's brush.
A.Ivanov added some character of sacrificial devotion to the idea and he managed to overcome lots of patterns referring to academic technique.
At that time P.Fedotov followed his own way. He was considered to be a brilliant dilettante, a subtle observes and a witty satirist, who anticipated further trends of Russian genre-painting.
Social aspiration of 1860-1870s awakes the painters' interest in the
themes connected with people's life. In 1872 in contrast to the
Academy of Arts the Association of travelling art exhibition was founded
(I.Kramskoy, G.Myasoedov,K.
The appeal to national themes resulted in unprecedented flourishing
of historical and battle painting. V.Surikov, I.Repin,
The first Russian Art Galleries were opened during those years; the works of Russian painters were exhibited regularly in international exhibitions and foreign art salon.
Having
achieved independence in their creative activity since the end of the
19th century Russian painting follows the same European course of fine
arts. Landscape painting is ousting genre painting. Striving
for depicting air and light, peculiar to Impressionism, can also be
found in the works of F.Vasilyev, I.Levitan, V.Serov, K.Korovin, and A.Arhipov.
Symbolism,
Neo-classicism and Modern influenced greatly A.Vrubel, the painters from 'World of
Arts' (A.Benois, L.Bakst,
E.Lansere) and the painters from 'A Blue Rose' (S.Sideikin,N.Krymov, V.
The 1910s are marked by the appearance of Russian vanguard, as an aspiration to rebuild the very essence of art up to the denial of art itself. A number of artists and creative associations set new schools and new trends, which influenced radically the development of world's fine arts - Supermatism (K.Malevich), 'the style of improvisation' and abstract art (V.Kandinskiy).
English Painting of the 17th - 18th centuries
English painting during the 17th century was dominated by foreign portraitists. Sir Peter Lely, a portraitist, began who his activity in England in 1641. His portraits of the members of the court of Charles II set the pattern for English portraiture of the second half of the 17th century. British patrons in the 18th century collected paintings on religious or mythical theme by foreign artists, but at home they collected portraits and landscapes.
The Protestant church did little to encourage painting. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 was followed by a brief flowering of decorative painting.
William Hogarth was greatly influenced by the continental style. Early in his career he succeeded in breaking away from the strait jacket of portraiture, and in his moralizing paintings he showed the life of his contemporaries. He invented a new form of secular narrative painting. His paintings were often tragicomedies. Hogarth’s series were always engraved for a large public. Despite Hogarth’s borrowings from old masters continental, he remained English.
When Reynolds, Sir Joshua, a British painter who is known for his portraits, returned from Italy in 1752, he possessed a more profound acquaintance with the old masters than any of his contemporaries. His colouring can be compared with Rembrandt and Rubens, and his poses are indebted to the sculpture of Michelangelo. He was the 1st president of the Royal Academy.
Thomas Gainsborough was in every way the antithesis to Reynolds. His tastes in portraiture lay in the delicate brushwork and ephemeral qualities of the Rococo. He preferred landscape painting to portraiture, and the strong Dutch influence in his earliest works later gave way to spontaneous landscapes composed from models.
To Sum up, Western European painting had a great influence on the painting of Russia and Great Britain.
in the 18th century and at the beginning if the 19th century fine arts in Russia went through all the main stages of Western art. Foreign painters and sculptors invited to Russia played an important role but very talented home masters appeared at that time. During the 19th century Russian painting achieved independence in their creative activity. As for, English painting during the 17th century it was dominated by foreign portraitists. Despite British painters’ borrowings from old continental masters, they remained English.
The Tretyakov Gallery is one of the most famous and well-known picture galleries in our country and all over the world. This gallery is named after its founder Peter Tretyakov. He began to collect Russian paintings in 1856. He wanted these paintings to be seen by people.
This gallery and collections of paintings were nationalized in 1918.
The gallery has many halls. One of them is devoted to the Great Russian painters of the 18th and 19th centuries. We can see pictures by such painters as Serov, Repin, Ivanov, Levitan and others.
The first works in Tretyakov’s collection were the paintings of the ‘Peredvizhniki’. The First pictures the collector bought were the paintings ‘Morning in a Pine Wood’ by Shishkin and
‘Ivan Tsarevich on the Grey Wolf’ by Vasnetsov. This gallery has many new exhibits now. You can see works of the painters of the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century there.
St. Petersburg is a city of culture. There are famous museums including the State Russian Museum and the Hermitage. In 1764 the Hermitage was founded by Catherine II the Great as a court museum. The Hermitage has rich collections of western European painting, Russian and Easten art.
It’s interesting, that the Hermitage has the works Thomas Gainsborough “Women in the blow” and Joshua Reynolds “Amours end Venus”.
The National Gallery has been in this building since 1838 which was built as the National Gallery to house the collection of Old Masters Paintings offered to the nation by an English Private collector, Sir George Beamount.
Today the National Gallery of Art exhibit works of all the European schools of painting, which existed between the 13th and 19th centuries. The most famous works among them are ‘Venus and Cupid’ by Diego Velazquez, ‘Adoration of the Shepherds’ by Nicolas Poussin, ‘A Woman Bathing’ by Harmensz van Rijn Rembrandt, ‘Lord Heathfield’ by Joshua Reynolds, ‘Mrs Siddons’ by Thomas Gainsborough and many others.
In 1897 the Tate Gallery was opened to house more modern British paintings. Most of the National Gallery collections of British paintings were transferred to the Tate, and only a small collection of a few masterpieces is now exhibited at Trafalgar Square.
Thus, the Tate Gallery exhibits a number of interesting collections of British and foreign modern painting and also modern sculpture.
The collection of Turner’s paintings at the Tate includes about 300 oils and 19,000 watercolours and drawings. He was the most traditional artist of his time as well as the most original: traditional in his devotion to the Old Masters and original in his creation of new styles. It is sometimes said that he prepared the way for the Impressionists.
The modern collection includes the paintings of Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Salvador Dali, Francis Bacon and Graham Sutherland, Peter Blake and Richard Hamilton, the chief pioneers of pop art in Great Britain. Henry Moore is a
famous British sculptor whose works are exhibited at the Tate too. One of the sculptor's masterpieces - the ‘Reclining Figure’ - is at fees Headquarters of UNESCO in Paris.
So, the most famous Galleries of Russia and Britain began their life with the private collections of the rich people
All in all,
the Tretyakov Gallery is one of the most famous and well-known picture
galleries in our country and all over the world. Its
Founder, Peter Tretyakov wanted these paintings to be seen by
people.
The National Gallery started its life with 38 paintings offered by Sir G. Beaumont. Then and now the paintings of famous Art galleries impress everyone who visits them.
Music and musicians
The people living in the Britain are very fond of music, and it is quite natural that concerts of the leading symphony orchestras, numerous folk groups and pop music are very popular.
The Promenade concerts are probably the most famous. They were first held in 1840 in the Queen's Hall, and later were directed by Sir Henry Wood and they are still held today in the
Royal Albert Hall. They take place every night for about three months in the summer, and the programmes include new and contemporary works, as well as classics. Among them are
symphonies and other pieces of music composed by Benjamin Britten, the famous English musician.
Folk music is still very much alive. There are many folk groups. Their harmony of singing and good humour win them friends everywhere.
Rock and pop music is extremely popular, especially among younger people. In the 60s and 70s groups such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd became very popular and successful.
The Beatles, with their new and exciting style of singing, their wonderful sense of humour became the most successful pop group the world has ever known. Many of the famous songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney are still popular. Some of the more recent rock groups are Eurhythmics, Dire Straits, and Black Sabbath.
British groups often set new trends in music. New staff and styles continue to appear. One of the most popular contemporary musicians and composers is Andrew Lloyd Webber. The musicals and rock operas by A. L. Webber have been a great success both in Britain and overseas.
The famous English composer of the 19th century was Arthur Sullivan. Together with William Gilbert, the writer of the texts, created fourteen operettas of which eleven are regularly performed today.
Outstanding Russian composers make the entire world admire their music. It's almost impossible to find a man who does not know Pyotr Ilyich Tchaicovsky, Michail Glinka, Nicholai Rimsky-Korsakov - the famous composers of the 19th century, and Sergei Rachmaninov, Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitriy Shostakovich. Of the 20 th century.
The most famous ballets "Swan Lake", "The Sleeping Beauty", "The Nutcracker" and not less famous operas "The Queen of Spades", "Eugine Onegin" are still excellently staged and performed not only in Russian but in many greatest theatres of the world.
Russia is also rich in young talents, new Russian culture is forming. We can hear new voices in music and poetry. All of them will make their contribution into Russian Culture and Art.
So, people of Russia and Britain
are very fond of music, and it is quite natural that people cannot exist
without music. Music reflects people’s mood and emotions. It helps
us understand each other and connect people all over the world. Many
British and Russian composers, folk and pop-groups,
singers and dancers are known all over the world.
Balalaika – musical instrument of the Russian.
Balalaika was first mentioned in a document which dates back to XVII century (1688). From this document we learn that Savka Fedoov, a citizen of the city of Arzamas, and Ivashka Fedorov, a peasant, while passing through the Yauza Gates played the balalaika. For such an
imprudent behavior they were flogged and exiled. It would never occur to a civilized person living nowadays that a severe punishment awaited anybody who gave himself to such an innocent occupation as playing the balalaika. But let us recollect the Russian history.
It happened soon after the death of the tsar Alexei Mikhailovich called "The Quietest". This tsar was famous for his hatred towards the popular Russian culture. In 1648 he issued an ukase where he ordered to collect all musical instruments of the Russian people and to burn them. All those who dared to continue playing them were to be flogged and then exiled to the periphery of the Russian State. To the end of the XVII century the persecution of Russian musicians and Russian instruments gradually subsided and at the end of the XVIII century balalaika became very popular with the public. Not only peasant boys who wanted to win favors of their sweethearts, but also the Court musicians played it.
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But after a period of popularity balalaika sank into oblivion till the middle of the next century and harmonica was on the top and balalaika was played only by the poor people who did not have enough money to buy harmonica.
Nobody knows what would have become of balalaika, if Vasili Andreev, a young Russian landowner had not seen it. On his way from St.Petersburgh to his estate Maryino he overheard his serf Antip play it. Vasili Andreev who considered himself an a connoisseur of the musical instruments of the Russian people was struck with wonder, because he had not heard anything of the kind before. Having thoroughly studied balalaika and having learned to play it, he came to the conclusion that balalaika’s possibilities were unheard-of! But it needed perfection!
With his improved balalaika Andreev appeared at the stage in 1886. His performance became a sensation. All the papers and magazines of the city wrote about him. Inspired by his success, Andreev continued to work over his instrument until finally he produced a whole family of balalaikas of different sizes and created an ensemble which was called "Amateurs of balalaika". The concerts of V.Andreev and his ensemble gained much popularity with the public.
But Andreev and his associates did not want to stop with their achievements which led to the renaissance of balalaika. They wanted to improve other musical instruments of the Russian people as well: such as domra, psaltery, zhaleyka, Vladimir clarions etc. The result of their work was the creation of The Great Russian Orchestra, the first performance of which took place under the direction of Andreev on the 11.01.1897.
The
Great Russian Orchestra of Andreev was a great success not only
in Russia, but also in France, Germany, England and the USA. Many circles
were founded in these countries where people could learn to play balalaika
and many orchestras like that of Andreev were created. Especially it
refers to England and the USA.
The National Musical Instrument of the Scots
The bagpipe was known to the ancient civilisations of the Near East. It was probably introduced to Britain by the Romans. Carvings of bagpipe players on churches’ walls and some words about them in the works of Chaucer and other writers show that it was popular all over the country in the Middle Ages. Now bagpipes can be seen and heard only in the northern counties of England, in Ireland and in Scotland where it was introduced much later. Bagpipes have been used in most European countries. It is also played to India and China.
In Scotland the first records about the bagpipe were in the 16th century during the reign of James I, who was a very good player, and probably did much to make it popular. For a long period it was considered a national Scottish instrument.
The sound of the bagpipes is very stirring. The old Highland clans and later the Highland regiments used to go into a battle to the sound of the bagpipes.
The bagpipe consists of a reed pipe, the ‘chanter’, and a windbag, which provides a regular supply of air to the pipe. The windpipe is filled either from the mouth or by a bellows, which the player works with his arm. The chanter has a number of holes or keys by means of which the tune is played.1
To sum up, The bagpipe is much more older than our balalaika. Both the balalaika and the bagpipe are known all over the world. Due to the improvements introduced by Andreev balalaika gained much popularity with the public in the entire world. In France, Germany, England and the USA many orchestras like that of Andreev were created. And
as far as its variety of timbres is concerned, no instrument can surpass balalaika! The bagpipe is considered a national Scottish instrument. No holiday in Scotland can’t be
imagined without bagpipe. As well as balalaika, the bagpipe is still a strong cultural emblem from Britain to the rest of the world.
The Art of Acting
From the fall of the Roman Empire until the 10th century, acting hardly existed as an art in Western Europe; only the wandering minstrels gave entertainment in castles and at fairs. In England, the first real actors were amateurs who performed Miracle and Morality plays, which were religious in character.
In the Elizabethan age, the first professional theatres were opened. At the time of Shakespeare there were at least six companies of actors. Shakespeare himself joined the Earl of Leicester’s company, which under James I became known as the ‘King's Men’.
There were also companies of boy actors. All the women's parts were played by boys. It was very difficult for most actors to earn a living on the stage, even in a London company, and many of them fell into debt. When Shakespeare arrived in London in 1586, the acting was very crude and conventional. There was almost no scenery, and the actors were dressed in the costumes of their day.
But when ‘The Globe’ was opened to the public in 1599, it started the golden age of the theatre in England.
In the first half of the 17th century the influence of the Puritans was bad for the popular theatre, and it was not before the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 that theatre going again became a popular habit. The most popular plays were comedies. The first part played by an actress was that of Desdemona. Nell Gwynn was the first English actress.
By the beginning of the 18th century the most popular type of play was the sentimental comedy. The acting was artificial probably due to the influence of French actors.
During the 19th century acting became more and more naturalistic. Like in Shakespeare's time, the best actors understood the importance of the teamwork of the company. One of the most famous actors of that time was Henry Irving. He was the first actor to be knighted. By the 1920s naturalistic acting reached a peak in the performance of Sir Gerald Du Maurier. He hardly appeared to be acting at all.
At present most acting still continues to be naturalistic. Designers make the settings as realistic as possible. Modern producers and directors Peter Hall, Peter Brook and others are trying out new styles of acting. Some go back to Greek methods, with a revival of the chorus; others are making use of the audience in helping to interpret the play.
History of Russian Theatre
Looking back for the roots of theatre in Russia we find that the first theatricals were pagan shows with dramatic recitations of fables, tales and proverbs, and singing and dances, performed by skomorokhi, traveling minstrels. The Orthodox Church and authorities persecuted those daring lovers of liberty who were sort of spiritual guides for country folks maintaining close link to pagan traditions. The skomorokh tradition was so strong that in spite of the vehement persecution it lasted for a long time – till the end of the 17th century.
As an alternative to the pagan theatre in the 16th century there appeared church theatre performing Biblical stories.
The
year 1672 saw the opening of the first theatre in Russia that would
stage plays on Biblical subjects. That was the theatre at the court
of tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
In 1702 Peter the First ordered to build a public theatre on Red Square. The theatre seated several hundred spectators. Finally, in 1720 Englishman Medox put Peter’s Theatre at the corner of Theatrical Square to stage operas and dramas.
Theatrical life in St.-Petersburg starts from 1752 when Fyodor Volkov’s amateurish troupe was invited from Yaroslavl town.
The end of the 18th – early 19th saw serf theatre springing up in many estates.
In the 19th century Moscow and St.-Petersburg become centres of theatrical life: the Maly (Small) Theatre was founded in 1824 and the Bolshoi (Big) Theatre replaced the burned Peter’s Theatre in 1825. Alexandrinsky Drama Theatre was founded in St. - Petersburg in 1832.
The first masterpieces of Russian drama were brilliant plays by Griboyedov and Gogol. By the middle of the century there came forward Nikolai Ostrovsky’s plays, which encouraged formation of a new generation of actors.
Russian opera theatre underwent enriching transformation thanks to new music compositions in the19th century.
The turn of the 20th century marked the burst of theatrical activities and searching for new styles. Strange as it may seem, the conservative art of ballet renovated comparatively fast. The powers and capabilities of the new Russian ballet found their full expression in Diaghilev’s ‘Ballets Russes’ in Paris, starting from 1907.
The most important event of the period was the foundation of Moscow Art Theatre of Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko in 1898. Russian drama theatre as we know it today is in many ways rooted in the school of those genius stage directors.
Later there came to life drama theatre in St.-Petersburg created by Vera Komissarzhevskaya with V. Meyerkhold as stage director, ‘Old Theatre’ by Nikolai Yevreinov, ‘Modern Theatre’ by Konstantin Mardzhanov, and Chamber Theatre in Moscow founded by Alexander Tairov in 1914, as well as Meyerkhold’s studio in Petrograd and Yevgeni Vakhtangov’ studio in Moscow.
In the Soviet period lively theatre innovations lasted for about 15 years, along with democratization of the theatre and engaging such gifted playwrights as Mikhail Bulgakov, V. Vishnevsky, V. Ivanov and N. Pogodin. However already in the 1930s innovative theatres became subject to suppression and their activities were cut short (Meyerkhold’s Theatre, Jewish Theatre of Solomon Mikhoels and Tairov’s Chamber Theatre).
The renovation of musical theatre was prompted by ballet revival. However it was drama theatre that caused a real blow-up of public spirits resulting in creation of social theatres and basic transformation of other theatres. 2
Also, today the Russian theatre enjoys utter freedom of creativity, if happily overlooking commercial conditions and demands which still prove to be limiting, perhaps more than ever. In most cases it is the degree of promotion rather than the level of talent and artistry that determines the mass success of this or that production or theatre.
Meanwhile, theatrical life of Russia is spanless as the country itself; who knows on what stage (perhaps the most modest one) you chance to see the miracle created alive in front of you.
Britain
is now one of the world's major theatres centres.
Drama is popular with people of all ages.
Definitely, art is eternal and immortal! Life is short, but art is long! People cannot exist without art.
A lot of people are really interested in music. It reflects people’s mood and emotions.
Folk music is still very much alive!
Many outsiders associate Scottish and British folk music with bagpipes. It charms when Highlands soldiers wearing kilts play the bagpipes and march to the music.
Balalaika is a symbol of Russia and it is popular all over in the World. The Great Russian Orchestra has a great success not only in Russia, but also in other countries in the World.
In Great Britain tours of Russian symphonic music, classical musicians, ballet and modern and classical Russian singers have a great success.
Modern British rock and pop music are extremely popular, especially among young people in Russia. Even so The Beatles are much loved in Russia. As for me, I like Pink Floyd. The rock operas by A.L.Webber, especially “Jesus Christ Super Star,” have been a great success both in Russia and overseas.
Russian painting is famous all over the world.
I’m found of the old masters’ works of art which are full of charm and inspiration. Artists notice things which escape our attention. Really, we learn a lot by seeing the world through other people’s eyes. Only after seeing their works we begin to understand beautiful things!
Britain is now one of the world's major theatres’ centres. Drama is popular with people of all ages. But a lot of Russian theatres’ are known in Britain.
Crash of Communism in the USSR destroyed artificial cultural barriers between Russia and the rest of the world. Nowadays Russian art welcome visitors almost in every part of the world. This inspires optimism as cross-cultural communication is a real sign showing the state of world's art.
The Oxford Advancer Learner`s Dictionary of Current English by Hornsby gives us the following definition of "art":
"Art" is the creation or expression of what is beautiful, especially in visual form. Drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music, ballet belong to the fine art". Really when something is extremely beautiful or has great cultural value, we say: "it’s art".
In fact, art has always been occupation for the few, but has been admired
by many. I really enjoy everything that is beautiful. So art is really
the best part of cultural life!
Муниципальное общеобразовательное учреждение
Средняя общеобразовательная школа № 65
С углубленным изучением английского языка
Ворошиловского района
Ростов-на-Дону
Наименование предмета: Культуроведение
« Art is the best part
of cultural live of Great Britain and Russia, isn’t it? »
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