Russian Orthodox Church music
The Russian Orthodox Church has always been the most important institution to influence the Cossack mindset, both in war and peacetime. Cossack life and the Russian Orthodox Church are inextricably linked. The Cossacks' daily customs are closely connected with ecclesiastical rites. “To be born a Cossack, to live as a Cossack”, the saying goes. “Then one will be taken up into the heavens and gain fame for posterity”. In turn, the Cossacks' love of liberty and free mentality also influenced the Russian Orthodox Church in Cossack territories. The custom of choosing military commanders to rule over the Cossack community in peacetime as well as war left its mark on the Church. The Cossacks selected their spiritual leaders from the ranks of highly respected, prominent and religious families. In addition to providing in the people's spiritual needs, a priest acted as both teacher and judge. In emergencies, he was also expected to jump on his horse with a sable or rifle to take part in battle. The intertwining of ecclesiastical rites and secular traditions also influenced the Cossacks' musical culture. A love of song and singing (especially choral singing) is typical of the Cossacks. Cossack culture places great value on teaching children to sing from a young age, both in a secular and religious context. This is why even the lowliest Cossacks had a highly developed culture of choral singing. In addition to the usual folk songs, non-professional choir singers would know how to perform intricate choral pieces by composers such as Bortnianskij or Rachmaninov.
As a result of the 1917 revolution, the Cossacks were massacred or forced to emigrate. Nevertheless, the Cossack spirit, traditions, customs, secular and spiritual songs have remained preserved up until the present day. When “Perestroijka” finally washed away the 70-year old repression of Cossacks and Cossack culture, every part of society became gripped by an unprecedented fascination for this great musical heritage.Based on the close ties between all Cossack people and the Russian Orthodox Church, the Don Cossack Choir Russia included several spiritual songs by impor tant Russian composers in its repertoire, such as “God is with us” (Tschesnokov) and “Confessional prayer for Russia” (Tchaikovsky).
