Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defense of Russia , also known as the Red Army Band is a military band unit of the Russian Armed Forces . It is a branch of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia . The current head of the band is Colonel Sergey Durygin.
12-915: Even as the Presidential Band of the Russian Federation is the more senior military band of Russia (as it reports to the Federal Protective Service as part of the Kremlin Regiment ), the CMB-MDR is the seniormost band in the Russian Armed Forces and the oldest active band in service, having been founded on October 1, 1927. The band consists of 227 musicians that come from all walks of life: civilians, contract soldiers, and conscript musicians serving their military service term. The band itself
24-794: A similar role, the Presidential Band is the official band of the President of Russia and is based in the Kremlin . The Presidential Band of the Kremlin Regiment of Russia was established in September 1938, being originally named the Moscow Kremlin Commandant's Band, for many years assigned as the official band of the Soviet KGB at state events. On January 11, 1993, Russian President Boris Yeltsin ordered
36-920: Is divided into two sections: a brass band and a symphonic band . The band participates in social, and cultural events of Russia. It is a permanent participant in the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo . The band regularly performs in the Grand Kremlin Palace , the Spasskaya Tower Festival , and parades on Red Square . The central band actively tours the globe, and has made appearances in Algeria , Australia , Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria , Great Britain , Germany , Denmark , Israel , Italy , China , North Korea , Mongolia , Norway ( Norwegian Military Tattoo 2002), Poland ,
48-688: The Belarusian SSR where it was staging a series of concerts in the Minsk Military District . Where the band performed at the Narev river, one side saw the band's performance while the other saw the German Wehrmacht preparing for Operation Barbarossa . The following day the war broke out. On 25 June 1941, the band returned to Moscow, three days after the start of hostilities. In September 1941, twenty-eight musicians from
60-534: The Commandant's Office of the Moscow Kremlin of the Federal Protective Service of the Russian Federation ( Russian :Президентский оркестр Службы коменданта Московского Кремля Федеральной службы охраны Российской Федерации) shortened to the Presidential Band of the Russian Federation ( Russian :Президентский оркестр Российской Федерации) is a special military unit that is the official military band for
72-848: The Hamina Tattoo in Finland in 2018, the band performed with the Band of the Royal Marines of Britain's Royal Navy where they performed songs such as Moscow Nights and Katyusha . In February 2020, the Central Military Band staged a concert to honor the 77th anniversary of Battle of Stalingrad in the Volgograd Philarmonia. By the time the Great Patriotic War began, the band was in
84-715: The President of Russia . It is the main band that plays at official ceremonies and receptions for high-ranking officials that visit Russia, including heads of state, heads of government, and diplomatic delegations. Although it is not an official military unit, it is affiliated with the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia . Unlike the Special Exemplary Military Band of the Guard of Honor Battalion of Russia , which shares
96-524: The U.S. , France , Switzerland , and Sweden . Among the individuals who have been associated with the band include former Canadian Army director of music Kenneth Snoeck and American performer Michael Jackson . It also collaborates extensively with the Moscow & District Pipe Band. The Central Band is required to take part in the Russian Honor Parade on Red Square on November 7. During
108-647: The Central Band's Bandmaster, then Col Andrey Kolotushkin, served as the band conductor. Today, the director of music does not hold the post of Senior Director of Music of the Military Band Service in a concurrent capacity, as that post leads the overall direction and organization of all the active bands in the armed services. Presidential Band of the Russian Federation The Presidential Band of
120-561: The band never ceased to perform over the course of the war, staging over 500 concerts and making 150 appearances on the All-Union radio. Among its activities were the ceremonies of awarding units their colors and state honors. Historically, since 1924, the Senior Director of Music of the Armed Forces has been the ceremonial chief of the band. In the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo editions of 2007, 2009 and 2010
132-619: The band received an order to go to the Western Front . A month later, the band got surrounded by the German 3rd Panzer Army and 4th Panzer Army near the city of Vyazma during the Battle of Bryansk . Although receiving the orders to break through the enemy circle and withdraw, the transport vehicle that was meant to do so was caught in the crossfire of multiple units. Nine musicians died immediately, ten going missing. Despite this setback,
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#1732791600998144-756: The band to be renamed to its current title. The band has given more than 700 performances in the Grand Kremlin Palace , as well as foreign theaters such as, the Kennedy Center , Madison Square Garden , the Rome Opera , and the Friedrichstadt Palace . The Presidential Band plays at various events that usually tailored to the Kremlin's ceremonial needs. It has performed on the following occasions in Russia and foreign countries. The band
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