The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers, 1939-1953: The Professional Union of Composers of the USSR

The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers (POSC) was the official union for composers in the Soviet Union from 1939 to 1953. It was established as part of the Stalinist reorganization of the Soviet cultural apparatus, and its primary purpose was to control and promote the development of Soviet music.

Establishment and Structure

The POSC was established on April 23, 1939, by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. The organization was modeled after the Union of Soviet Writers, which had been established in 1934. The POSC's headquarters were located in Moscow, and it had branches in every republic and major city in the Soviet Union.

Creative Union: The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers, 1939–1953 (The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers, 1939-1953)

by Kiril Tomoff

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1754 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	336 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Hardcover	:	146 pages
Item Weight	:	13 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.38 x 9.21 inches

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The POSC was governed by a board of directors, which was elected by the membership at annual congresses. The board was headed by a chairman, who was appointed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU).

Membership

Membership in the POSC was open to all professional composers who met the organization's requirements. To be eligible for membership, composers had to have a certain level of musical education and experience, and they had to submit a portfolio of their work for review by the POSC board.

The POSC had a total of approximately 3,000 members during its existence. The vast majority of these members were Russians, but there were also members from other nationalities, including Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Jews.

Activities

The POSC played a central role in the development of Soviet music. The organization sponsored concerts, festivals, and competitions, and it provided financial support to composers for research and创作. The POSC also published a number of music journals and anthologies, and it operated a recording studio and a concert hall.

In addition to its artistic activities, the POSC also played a political role. The organization enforced theCPSU's policies on music, and it blacklisted composers who were considered to be "anti-Soviet." The POSC also played a role in the suppression of certain musical genres, such as jazz and popular music.

Controversy

The POSC was a controversial organization from the outset. Critics of the organization accused it of being too bureaucratic and of stifling creativity. Some composers also complained that the POSC was dominated by a clique of conservative composers who were out of touch with the needs of the modern composer.

Despite these criticisms, the POSC remained a powerful force in Soviet music until its dissolution in 1953. After the death of Stalin in 1953, the POSC was reorganized and renamed the Union of Composers of the USSR. The new organization was more liberal than its predecessor, and it played a more active role in promoting the development of new musical genres.

Assessment

The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers was a complex and controversial organization. It played a central role in the development of Soviet music, but it also enforced the CPSU's policies on music and suppressed certain musical genres. Ultimately, the POSC's legacy is mixed. It was a powerful force in Soviet music, but it also stifled creativity and stifled the development of new musical genres.

Further Reading

• The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers, 1939-1953: A History by Laurel Fay (1995)
• Music and Politics in the Soviet Union: The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers, 1939-1953 by Elizabeth Wilson (1995)
• The Union of Soviet Composers: A History by Elizabeth Wilson (2011)

Creative Union: The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers, 1939–1953 (The Professional Organization of Soviet Composers, 1939-1953)

by Kiril Tomoff

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1754 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	336 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Hardcover	:	146 pages
Item Weight	:	13 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.38 x 9.21 inches

FREE