International music festival “Bluegrass” on July 20-21, 2010
The first in history of Vologda land a music festival
of traditional American music in bluegrass style took place on July 20-21,
2010.
On July 20, 2010 a festival of traditional American music in bluegrass style
was opened in Consistorial court of the Vologda Kremlin.
The holders of the festival under the support of the US Consulate General in
Saint-Petersburg were Vologda Oblast Government, Regional Department of
Culture and Cultural Heritage Preservation and administration of the Vologda
state museum-reserve of history, architecture and art.
“Today we will witness a beautiful, vivid, emotional and highly professional
meeting of two cultures – Russian and American”, - underlined in the
greeting speech a general director of the Vologda state museum-preserve of
history, architecture and art. - A dialogue of two cultures will have a
vivid progress if the countries are united by the idea of friendship and
cooperation”.
“The Vologda residents never before received such a gift, never Jamboree
took place in the Kremlin”, - shared his impressions Senior Vice-Governor
Ivan Pozdnyakov. – It’s a gift for music fans. I think it’s a real happiness
to see Pete Wernick for those who appreciate music art”.
Sheila Guoltni, US Consul General, noted gladly that there were a great
number of groups playing bluegrass in Russia and a lot of fans of such a
style..
The audience witnessed an emotional “bluegrass jamboree”
– a concert of musicians playing their music in small parts. American
banjo-virtuoso Pete Wernick and his group, a country-group “FINESTREET” from
Saint-Petersburg and Vologda musicians “Petrovich Band” appeared on the
Vologda Kremlin stage. A young group from Obninsk city “Cheerful diligence”
played in a stirring and spontaneous way.
The musicians told that they were glad to play in Vologda and Alexey Smirnov,
a soloist of “FINESTREET” group, noted: “A true Russia can be found in such
cities as Vologda”..
On July 21, 2010 – a second day of the festival –
Vologda Oblast museum of Architecture and Ethnography in Semenkovo village
turned into a big concert stage. All comers arrived there to enjoy a
traditional American music in bluegrass style.
Opening the festival the artists of the folklore group “Semenkovo”
expressed their hope to make “Bluegrass” a start of a long friendship of two
cultures - American and Russian. Again the audience enjoyed a talented show
of the American musician Pete Wernick and his group, a country-group
“FINESTREET” from Saint-Petersburg, “Cheerful diligence from Obninsk city
and Vologda musicians “Petrovich Band”.
After the concert the musicians gave master-classes to all interested. A
virtuoso player of country and bluegrass music from USA Pete Wernick and his
wife Joan told children coming from different Vologda music schools how they
became keen on country music. Joan showed some secrets of a guitar playing
and Pete – a banjo playing.
Besides music master-classes the guests who came to the
festival could receive new knowledge and skills – museum workers taught
different folk crafts: birch bark plaiting, making a decorative toy, art
painting.
A sunny music in bluegrass style harmoniously sounded on Vologda land. The
festival became a vivid music summer event.
Anastasia Druzhinina
Anastasia Lavrentieva