Musical art of Belarus is one of the most interesting pages in the history of national culture. Being original and peculiar, the Belarusian music is, at the same time an integral part of the European and world musical civilization. Peculiarities of Belarusian musical culture are connected in many respects with the historical conditions in which it was developing.

Sources of Belarusian musical art lie in folk music of Eastern Slavs and Kiev Russia.

A major element of the national culture is its ancient musical-and-poetic folklore by means of which ethnic features of the Belarusian people, its aspiration, dreams about better life found their expression. Calendar-an-ceremonial rural songs - Christmas carol, Pancake week carnival, courting after, St. John Baptist's Day, reaping are standing out. Family-life ceremonial songs - childbirth, christening, wedding, lamentation are also widespread. The Belarusian songs have been long attracting attention of folklore researchers (N. A. Yanchuk, M. Federovsky, G. R. Shirma, L. S. Mukharinskaya, G. I. Tsitovich).

Among the national musical instruments the pipe, zhaleyka, horn, lyre, violin and cymbals, subsequently reformed by I. I. Zhinovich became popular.

The most important sphere of formation of national musical culture are dramatized dances "Yurochka", "Bulba" (Potato), "Lenok" (Flax), "Tereshka", etc. In the 16th -18th centuries school theatres and the "Batleika" national puppet theatre appeared. The music accompaniment of performances was based on folklore samples and spiritual cants.

First carriers of secular professional musical tradition were skomorokhs. A local version of neuma (sign) drawling song was formed in Orthodox Church music by the 15th century. In musical culture of the 16th -17th centuries Renaissance and Reformation trends got reflected. In the 17th century the tradition of singing (choral concerts, psalms) was formed. Monuments of domestic musical culture of the Baroque epoch are collections of vocal and instrumental pieces of music "Polotsk Notebook" and "Courants". In the 18th century private theatres and choirs belonging to magnates Radzivils, Sapegas, Oginskies, A. Tizengauz, etc. became centers of musical culture. Among local composers were Y. Golland, E. Van-zhura, M. Radzivil, R. Vardotsky (opera "Apollo the Legislator, or Reformed Parnassus"). From the beginning of the 19th century in large cities (Vitebsk, Grodno, Minsk, Mogilev) city orchestras acted, plays were staged ("Recruitment" and "Peasant Woman" by S. Moniuszko to libretto of V. Dunin-Martsinkevich). Composers A. Abramovich, M. Yelsky, F. Miladovsky, N. Orda, etc. were creating at that time.

In the 20th century a genuine heyday of the Belarusian musical culture and education took place. In 1918-1919 musical schools and national conservatoires were opened later converted into musical technical colleges. Of special value was the Minsk musical college, nowadays the Glinka musical school. On the basis of its opera and ballet classes the theatre of opera and ballet was opened in 1933.

In 1932 the conservatoire, nowadays the Belarusian Academy of Music was opened.

An outstanding role in development of musical life of the Republic was played by V. Zolotaryov, pupil of N. Rimski-Korsakov, who headed the composers' education at the conservatoire. Among his students were outstanding composers: A. Bogatyryov, P. Podkovyrov, L. Abeliovich, D. Lukas, V. Olovnikov.

The pre-war years witnessed active creative activity of N. Aladov, Y. Tikotsky, N. Churkin, G. Pukst. Operas "Mikhas Podgorny" by Y. Tikotsky, "In Polesye Virgin Forest" by A. Bogatyryov, ballet "Nightingale" by M. Kroshner became bright events of cultural life.

During the Great Patriotic War the Belarusian people went through heaviest ordeals possible. Fight against the fascist occupation became the main subject of musical art. Creation of cantata "To Belarusian Partisans" (text by Y. Kupala) by A. Bogatyryov, opera "Alesya" about national avengers by Y. Tikotsky (libretto by P. Brovka) became prominent.

In the post-war period the pedagogical activity of A. Bogatyryov as a tutor of the majority of Belarusian composers of subsequent generations became extremely relevant. They are Y. Glebov who is intensively working in all musical genres, but has gained special recognition in the genre of ballet: "Alpine Ballad", "The Elect", "Tyhl Uhlenspiegel", "Little Prince"; A. Mdivani who addresses in his works to historical subjects [ballet "Passions" ("Rogneda")]; V. Soltan who created a remarkable opera "Wild Hunting of King Stakh". Its staging received a broad public resonance.

In the genre of songs V. Olovnikov, Y. Semenyako, I. Kuznetsov, I. Luchenok, Y. Glebov, V. Budnik, E. Zaritsky and many others are working successfully. In 1980s-1990s works of spiritual music appeared (L. Shleg, V. Kopytsko, A. Bondarenko).

The following companies work in Belarus today: the National Academic Theatre of Opera, the National Academic Theatre of Ballet, the State Musical Theatre (since 1970), the State Academic People's Orchestra named after I. Zhinovich (since 1930), the State Academic Symphonic Orchestra (since 1928), the State Academic Choral Cappella named after G. Shirma (since 1939), the State Academic People's Chorus named after G. Tsitovich (since 1952), the Academic Chorus of Belarusian Radio and Televisions (since 1987), the Symphonic Orchestra of Belarusian Television and Radio (since 1958), the State Orchestra of Symphonic and Variety Music (since 1987), the State Ensemble of Dance (since 1959), the Belarusian State Academy of Music (since 1932), the Belarusian Union of Composers (since 1932), the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society (since 1937), variety collectives "Pesnyary", "Verasy", "Syabry" (Friends), rock groups "Palats" (Palace), "Krama", "High Sky", etc.

The Belarusian modern musical art aims at preservation of national traditions, while deepening professionalism connected with the main tendencies of development of the world musical movement.

During the latest years new creative collectives were formed, musical festivals are held, making it possible to acquaint broad layers of population with the best examples of musical and choreographic art. In addition to traditional international musical festivals "Belarusian Musical Autumn", "Minsk Spring", "Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk", permanent governmental support is provided to the "Golden Hit" International Musical Festival, Jazz Festival during which the Belarusian audience welcomes actors, companies, conductors, composers of Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Germany, Spain and other countries. Under support of local authorities such large cultural actions like "Muses of Nesvizh" festivals of chamber music, of modern choreography in Vitebsk, of Belarusian songs and poetry in Molodechno, of ancient and modern music in Polotsk are held. In total in Belarus more than 30 international, national and regional festivals with spectators' audience above 1 million (the television one not included) are held on a regular basis.

With the aim to provide social support to creative workers, permanent additional payment was established to prominent figures of culture and art who have the "People's" title of honor, as well as personal salaries and surcharges to the leading masters of art. Starting from 1994, state scholarships are assigned annually for fulfillment of particular creative projects to prominent figures of culture and art, creative youth. The Foundation of the President of the Republic of Belarus for support of culture and art was established.

One of priorities of the state policy is development of youth variety art. Establishment of the State Youth Theatre launched under active support by the President of the Republic of Belarus A. G. Lukashenko, allows to use the basis of the theatre to start creative studios to train variety actors, to conduct training courses with young performers under individual schedules.

Considerable work of development and propagation of the national variety art is carried out by the State Orchestra of Symphonic and Variety Music conducted by M. Finberg.

A significant cultural event of the latest years was awarding in Paris of the Benois de la Dance Prize to V. Yelizariev, Art Director of the National Academic Theatre of Ballet for the best choreography in the world-wide ballet art of 1996. The Prize was awarded for staging of the "Passions" ballet of the Belarusian composer A. Mdivani dedicated to the topic of national history. This ballet was also marked by the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus. Distinctive events of ballet and opera art were premieres of ballets "Spring Sacred" and "Firebird" by I. Stravinsky, "Circular Motion" by O. Zaletnev, operas "Visit of a Lady" by S. Kortes, "Prince Igor" by A. Borodin, etc. Increase of creative activity, strengthening of material-technical base, level of performers was promoted by transformation of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Opera and Ballet into the Creative Association "The National Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Opera and Ballet of the Republic of Belarus".

Premieres of works of various genres created by Belarusian composers took place: concerto for piano and symphonic orchestra, "Divertissement" for chamber orchestra by D. Smolsky, Symphony No. 4. by G. Vagner, concerto for trombone and symphonic orchestra by G. Gorelova, the first symphony by O. Khodosko, etc. State Prizes were awarded to programs of the "Khoroshki" Belarusian State Choreographic Ensemble and the State Orchestra of Symphonic and Variety Music.

Successive implementation of the program of development of professional musical art of the Republic has formed the basis for establishment of new creative collectives practically in all Oblast (regional) philharmonic societies. The concert services are provided by more than 70 orchestras, ensembles and concert companies of Oblast philharmonic societies, more than 80% of concerts in the Republic are given by Belarusian creative collectives and performers.

A variety of musical programs, diverse in styles and genres, was presented by our professional collectives abroad (Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, India, France, Brazil, China, Lithuania, Poland, etc.). Active touring is undertaken by the companies of Belarusian Ballet and Opera, State Academic Symphonic Orchestra, State Ensemble of Dance, "Classic-Vanguard" ensemble of soloists, etc. Choral traditions are preserved and multiplied by the leading collectives of the Republic - the State Academic Choir named after G. Shirma, State Academic People's Chorus named after G. Tsitovich.

A subject of special care is preservation of the personnel and creative potentials of the Republic. First of all it concerns solution of problems of orchestra musicians. A special program of improvement of professional training of conductors has been drafted for upbringing the national conductors. Young Belarusian conductors undergo training at the leading conservatoires and symphonic orchestras of St.-Petersburg and Moscow. The material base of creative collectives becomes stronger.