| Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation | |
|---|---|
| Военно-оркестровая служба Вооружённых Сил Российской Федерации | |
 The massed bands of the Moscow Garrison during the2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade. | |
| Active | 1711; 314 years ago (1711) |
| Country |  Russia |
| Branch |  Ministry of Defense |
| Type | Administrative service |
| Role | The organization ofmilitary bands belonging to the Russian Armed Forces |
| Size | 1000+ musicians divided between 200-300 bands |
| Part of | Military Band Service Directorate |
| Headquarters | Moscow |
| Anniversaries | February 19 (Day of the Band Service[1][2][3]) |
| Commanders | |
| Senior Director of Music of the Armed Forces | Major GeneralTimofey Mayakin[4] |
| Chief Inspector | Lieutenant Colonel Igor Shevernev[5][6] |
| Notable commanders |
|
| Insignia | |
| Emblem (1991-Present) |  |
TheMilitary Band Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation serves as the official service ofmilitary bands in active service within theRussian Armed Forces and formerly theSoviet Armed Forces. It is part of the Military Band Service Directorate of theGeneral Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
For a country that has not just one of the largest armed forces in the world but also has produced some of the greatest composers and musicians, the MBS-AFR is one of the oldest institutions of military music in Europe and the world, founded byPeter the Great as per Ukaz № 2319 enacted on Feb. 19, 1711,[8][10] which mandated the formation of military bands and field music formations within both theImperial Russian Army and the nascentImperial Russian Navy following the Western practices. As both the Army's two foundation regiments (thePreobrazhensky Regiment and theSemyonovsky Regiment) had their own bands and corps of drums, which would also inspire the formation of the bands and fanfare band units within the artillery and the cavalry, the age of Peter the Great, aside from laying the foundation of the armed forces, also began centuries of the Russian military band tradition, which continues until today. In the 1870s, a post called the Inspector of Naval Bands, held by composerNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov until its abolishment, became the starting point for the official organized arrangement of military bands.[11] In 1922, the Inspectorate of the Military Bands of the Red Army and Navy was formed, renamed in 1955 as the current Military Band Service. In October 1924, the post of Inspector of Military Bands of theRed Army. As of 1947, Inspectorate of Military Bands reported directly to the head of the 3rd Division of the Combat Training Department of the Soviet Army Headquarters, where it was transferred to on 1 December 1931.[12][13] Its modern functions and duties were established in an order signed by theChief of the General StaffViktor Samsonov on 22 November 1996.[14][15][16] In November 2007, by the approval of PresidentDmitry Medvedev, the band service created a charter for the conductors of garrison bands to have more authority over their events and activities.[17] In 2011, the service celebrated 300 years of Russian military music.[18][19]
Annual concert activity of the military band service began inside the hall of the Philharmonic Society ofSt. Petersburg in November 1813.
The office of Senior Director of Music of the Military Band Service is the operational and administrative leader of the service. His/her role is laid out in a decree from Soviet Defence MinisterRodion Malinovsky dating back to July 1963.[20] Local military bands of military garrisons and units are managed by the chiefs of the military bands services of the military districts, with their appointment being as the Senior Director of Music. As such, local conductors report to the director and are accountable to him/her only.[21]
Over 1,000 musicians of the service divided into 40 bands[22] participate in the annualVictory Day parades and before 1991 theOctober Revolution andMay 1 parades as well.[23] The service is an active sponsor of the annualSpasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo inMoscow. Joint military concerts are commonly held between the bands of the service and foreign military bands on Russian and foreign soil. Mass events were held on the service's tricentennial in 2011. Every couple of years, officials from the service conduct contests to identify the best bands in the service as well as inspections to identify those that retain the standard for bands.[24] In 1928, the first national competition of military bands being held.[25]
The military band service provides military bands for theKremlin Regiment and the154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment during special occasions andstate visit.[23]
The composition of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation include:[26]
Not under the armed forces but affiliated to the Band Service:
The Band of the Moscow Garrison is in that it consists of the 190 quality musicians who come together from different exemplary bands throughout the formerMoscow Military District. At one time, it included the Headquarter Band of the MVO, the Combined Band of the Internal Troops, the Band of the Military Institute of Military Conductors, the Band of the Military Academy of the Strategic Rocket Forces, the Band of the Moscow Higher Military Command School, and the Band of the 147 Automobile Base of the Ministry of Defense. The support all important state events and special events in the Russian capital, includingmilitary parades on Red Square and international music festivals.[30]
Formation in Moscow
Formation in St Petersburg
Formation in Yekaterinburg
The emblems and patches of the band service were adopted by order of Defence MinisterSergei Ivanov on 7 February 2005.[31]
Common elements of military band symbols include:[32]
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