Overview
The Union of Russian Composers (formerly the Union of Soviet Composers, Order of Lenin Union of Composers of USSR (1932- ), and Union of Soviet Composers of the USSR) is a state-created organization for musicians and musicologists created in 1932 by Joseph Stalin in the last year of the Cultural Revolution and first Five-Year Plan. It became the official replacement for the various artistic associations which were present before like the Association for Contemporary Music and the Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians, two of the independently directed, music committees. According to Richard Taruskin, the Union had fully materialized into its full-form well before 1948 and in time for the delivery of Zhdanov's Doctrine.
During the First Constituent Congress of post-Stalin Union of Soviet Composers, held in Moscow, in April 1960, the composer Dmitri Shostakovich was unanimously elected General Secretary.
Priorities of the organization
Their mission, as stated in 2021, is to contribute to "the moral and ethical education of a modern person." They also stipulate key tenants that the Union are focused on addressing, such as:
Development and strengthening of the composer organizations in all regions;
Stimulation and creation of ample opportunities for composer creativity;
Advance of musical culture and compositions of the Russian composers in Russia and abroad;
Development and support of youth composer creativity;
Protection of copyright of composers;
Edition of notes and record of discs, and distribution of pieces of music;
Creation of positive image of the organization for expansion of opportunities and strengthening of the authority on musical space of the Russian Federation.
History
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).