03-21-2007, 03:52 AM
I noticed there weren't many topics on this wonderful musical ensemble, so I thought I'd create one, tying it in with another subject: uniform transitions.
I'm a bit of a fanboy towards the Red Army Ochestra & Dance Ensemble, and while I have no shortage of their songs, I've only a handful of video clips of theirs--seeing them in action is an amazing sight as well. They're also an interesting gauge of uniform transitions.
For example, early images from the 1970s and early 1980s portray them in the a variety of army dress uniforms--the regular male members wear everyday uniforms, though curiously, female members seem to wear dress uniforms, as does the conductor (this could be easily explained by assuming that all members are wearing parade uniforms, and all female members are officers, as is the conductor, a lieutenant colonel, while male members are enlisted men or NCOs).
I recall a clip of the Red Army Choir singing 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' before Billy Graham, during his visit to the country in the 1980s. It was part of his documentary--I don't particularly like the man, and I was rather annoyed when the narrator and Graham's associates made it sound as though it was his doing that they were singing thanks to him, not because of Gorbachev or anyone else. :mad:
I mention this because at that point, and during the infamous 'Total Balalaika Show' in 1993, the Red Army Choir wore Honor Guard Uniforms--all the members had the the gold-lined shoulder boards and sunburst-insignia on their caps (with the exception of the conductor, who wore no cap and a sunburst badge on the breast of his uniform). I remember the site 'Under the Red Star' makes some mention of a brief transition for musical orchestras towards wearing Honor Guard uniforms in the late 1980s--so that makes sense. The Red Army Choir also has the Honor Guard sleeve patches.
What happens next, in the 1994 Nokia Balalaika Show (in Berlin) is interesting. Less than a year later, and none of the choir members have changed (to my knowledge), all of them are sporting transitional army caps, as described at Under the Red Star, at the end of the army caps section. They have lyres pinned to the crowns, and are still sporting a Soviet badge cap--they have lost the Honor Guard sunbursts. The uniforms themselves look like contemporary Russian ones, with breast pockets and Russian sleeve patches.
As of the recent years, the transition has been entirely complete, and by the time of the 'Global Balalaika Show' in 2003 (which borders are the totally bizarre, even for me), members have Czarist Eagles on their cap crown's and Russian sleeve patches.
So...what to make of this? The Red Army Choir transitions faster/slower than the formal Russian army in terms of uniform changes....who knows? In any case, it's something I noticed, and there aren't enough topics about this fantastic musical group I think.
I'm a bit of a fanboy towards the Red Army Ochestra & Dance Ensemble, and while I have no shortage of their songs, I've only a handful of video clips of theirs--seeing them in action is an amazing sight as well. They're also an interesting gauge of uniform transitions.
For example, early images from the 1970s and early 1980s portray them in the a variety of army dress uniforms--the regular male members wear everyday uniforms, though curiously, female members seem to wear dress uniforms, as does the conductor (this could be easily explained by assuming that all members are wearing parade uniforms, and all female members are officers, as is the conductor, a lieutenant colonel, while male members are enlisted men or NCOs).
I recall a clip of the Red Army Choir singing 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' before Billy Graham, during his visit to the country in the 1980s. It was part of his documentary--I don't particularly like the man, and I was rather annoyed when the narrator and Graham's associates made it sound as though it was his doing that they were singing thanks to him, not because of Gorbachev or anyone else. :mad:
I mention this because at that point, and during the infamous 'Total Balalaika Show' in 1993, the Red Army Choir wore Honor Guard Uniforms--all the members had the the gold-lined shoulder boards and sunburst-insignia on their caps (with the exception of the conductor, who wore no cap and a sunburst badge on the breast of his uniform). I remember the site 'Under the Red Star' makes some mention of a brief transition for musical orchestras towards wearing Honor Guard uniforms in the late 1980s--so that makes sense. The Red Army Choir also has the Honor Guard sleeve patches.
What happens next, in the 1994 Nokia Balalaika Show (in Berlin) is interesting. Less than a year later, and none of the choir members have changed (to my knowledge), all of them are sporting transitional army caps, as described at Under the Red Star, at the end of the army caps section. They have lyres pinned to the crowns, and are still sporting a Soviet badge cap--they have lost the Honor Guard sunbursts. The uniforms themselves look like contemporary Russian ones, with breast pockets and Russian sleeve patches.
As of the recent years, the transition has been entirely complete, and by the time of the 'Global Balalaika Show' in 2003 (which borders are the totally bizarre, even for me), members have Czarist Eagles on their cap crown's and Russian sleeve patches.
So...what to make of this? The Red Army Choir transitions faster/slower than the formal Russian army in terms of uniform changes....who knows? In any case, it's something I noticed, and there aren't enough topics about this fantastic musical group I think.
