From the history of cultural policy in pre-revolutionary Russia: Russian musical society in second half of 19 century

The topicality of problems of cultural policy inmodern conditions forces to address to the history of the question. In the article by example of activity of the Imperial Russian musicalsociety in the second half of the 19th century some elements of the theory of cultural policy are considered. They are the parity of theprivate initiative and the state strategy in the field of musical culture, the basic directions of development  concert practice, music educationsystem. In the art sphere it is accepted to speak about the cultural policy of the state in connection with the Soviet stage of domestichistory. However, in pre-revolutionary history there were examples of purposefully cultural strategy, which had favourable consequencesfor the development of domestic art. This is history of Russian musical society, which was formed in 1859 at the initiative ofthe outstanding representatives of domestic musical culture (A. Rubinshteyn, M. Vielgorsky, V. Kologrivov, D. Stasov, etc.). It wasinitially thought as an important cultural-strategic project, which aimed at the All-Russia development of new forms of musical practice.But only with the state support of the members of the Imperial family, the society could promote development of musical culture countrywide;activate the development of composers creativity that favourably affected the condition of the domestic culture. In the article,personal contribution of separate representatives of the Imperial family to development of the Russian musical society is considered byexample of authorised documents (the Charter, materials of the Congresses of the Society); certain directions of its activity in the sphereof development of music education and concert practice are analysed. Special attention is given to interaction of the capitals Generalmanagement and local branches. A conclusion is made that the purposeful cultural strategy of the Imperial Russian musical society definedthe objects of modernisation of the art life of the country (development of secular forms of musical life, expansion of educatedaudience) and worked out practical actions for their realisation (formation of system of music education, preparation of professionalperformers), which finally led to considerable activization of the role of musical culture in the society life, to the growth of prestige ofmusical activity and to the development of spiritually-valuable aspects of social being of music.

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