Centre of Musical Antiquities in Veliky Novgorod has celebrated its 20th Anniversary

In January 2010, V. Povetkin’s Cultural Centre of Musical Antiquities celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The Center of Musical Antiquities carries out a scientific program on restoration of forms and sounding of ancient musical instruments of the 10th – 15th cc, whose evidence are still being found by archeologists in the old part of Veliky Novgorod. The main base of source materials on the music past of the Russian people has been formed over here. A restorer Vladimir I. Povetkin, an honoured worker of culture, has been the founder and the director of the Centre.

Apart from the scientific work the Centre carries out a cultural program. Legendary gusli, hornpipes, jaw harps, treshchotkas (idiophone percussion instrument) and other musical instruments are played on holidays as well as at special lectures-concerts, where traditionally dressed Chorus, directed by N. Popova, also performs. Peculiarity of the Chorus is that it gathers people of various occupations.  Folk holidays for them are not stage performances but life itself.

In the Centre you can listen to the songs and tunes of Novgorod, Pskov, Arkhangelsk, Vologda and other regions, learn to make gusli, sew folk clothes, get advices about many crafts. Knowledge of lullabies, children and youth will be your first important step into the world of folk wisdom. Learning more about real ancient ritual song and instrumental music is one of the ways of realizing the best ideals of folk culture and the lifestyle that, remaining in countless Russian villages, formed recently the basis of both our national identity and our national self-dignity.