V. Dyomina

The celebration of the capture of Azov as «victorial» festival of a new type

The author of the article elucidates the series of solemn events that were organized in several towns of Russia on the occasion of the capture of Azov by the Russian forces in 1696. The researcher interprets the named solemnity as the earliest example of new-type «victorial» festival. The purposeful modernization of the individual elements conformably to this festival (a solemn divine service, and ceremony of Russian forces triumphal entry, and festive gathering) realized under supervision of Peter I and favoured the formation of artistic phenomenon that changed the image of Russian culture. The comprehension of the one-in-two nature inherent in «victorial» festivals (innovatory aspirations and historical continuity) is bound up with an exposure of interaction principles as applied to appropriate (innovatory and canonical) elements. The author of the article notes the weighty role of music in the mentioned celebrations as integral part of the full-range synthesis of arts. The researcher marks that panegyric canticles and historical songs narrating the victory of Russian arms of Azov and remaining in manuscript songbooks of the XVIIIth century and in the oral tradition are notable for undoubted trustworthiness. It is testified to the significance of the described «victorial» festival in aspect of consecutive activization regarding the historical memory of various strata of the Russian society at the dawn of Peter’s Reforms.

Key words

Era of Peter I, capture of Azov, «victorial » celebration, interactions between traditions and innovations.

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