John Garvey (1921-2006) was a professor who studied many different kinds of music, ranging from indigenous music to Russian Folk Orchestra. In the 1970s, John Garvey traveled to Russia and Southeast Asia in pursuit of learning more about their music. Upon his return, Garvey founded the University of Illinois’ Russian Folk Orchestra in 1974 which he conducted for over a decade, until 1989 Garvey’s orchestra became a model for other universities’ own Russian Folk Orchestras, where students could learn about this culture and music, without having to bring in the politics of the Cold War.
Photo courtesy of the
Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Sousa Archives and Center for American Music preserves John Garvey’s papers about the Russian Folk Orchestra. You can access the materials here.
- Music Building. Home of the Music Department, John Garvey’s home department.
Russian Folk Orchestra is a highly sought-after and special type of orchestra that has been around on a widespread basis since the early 20th century. The Ossipov Balalaika Orchestra was formed in 1919 by two prominent musicians: Boris Troyanovsky and Pyotr Alexeyev. Together they formed the most prominent Russian Folk Orchestra and traveled throughout the entire USSR performing for many people. The Orchestra is still around today.
Fun Fact: During World War II the Ossipov Balalaika Orchestra was disbanded, as all members had to go to the front.
H., J. (2014). 1967/1968. John Garvey and the University of Illinois Jazz Band. http://garveyband.blogspot.com/p/1967.html
John Garvey and the Russian Folk Orchestra. (1985). John Garvey Music and Papers, 1910-1977, Record Series 12/5/38, Box 15, Folder 1. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music.
Ossipov Balalaika Orchestra. (n.d.). The History. http://www.ossipovorchestra.ru/en/history/bio#:~:text=The%20Orchestra%20was%20founded%20in,Russian%20Orchestra%20of%20Folk%20Instruments.
Ossipov State Academic Russian Folk Orchestra. (n.d.). Russian Folk Instruments. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/17434912-Ossipov-State-Academic-Russian-Folk-Orchestra-Russian-Folk-Instruments
Schwartz, S. (n.d.) Garvey, John (1921-2006). University of Illinois Archives. https://archon.library.illinois.edu/?p=creators/creator&id=1758
Schwartz, S. (2017, October 13).”From Russia with Love” John Garvery’s Russian Folk Orchestra Exhibition Opens Today. Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. https://archives.library.illinois.edu/sousa/2017/10/13/from-russia-with-love-john-garveys-russian-folk-orchestra-exhibit-opens-today/