Music is humanities one universal language. One can identify with others of a different cultural, social, and national background with the help of a mutually appreciated musical piece. Music can unite a country, end a war, or on the contrary, catalyze conflict. It can serve to gather the collective identity of a nation or people and act as a rallying point which can garner support for a common cause or goal. In the Russian Revolution, music helped unite the common Russian working man against the oppressive, outdated, and archaic Tsarist regime. The people of Russia were in need of a complete governmental and sociological about face. With the Revolution of 1917, music was a uniting force which helped create a sense of comradeship between countrymen that allowed for a collective upheaval of the status quo. Still, while music did prove to unify Russians in their hour of change, it was not the only factor in establishing a cohesive collective identity throughout the motherland.
There were many factors in which contributed to the collective identity of the Russian people and the establishment of a Bolshevik regime. Namely, the music of the time proved to inspire and motivate the people of Russia to action. Many songs were written or publicized in order to spread the sentiments of brotherhood and camaraderie in which were present during the Bolshevik revolution.
Songs such as The Warsawian and The Internationale were used as a means of reaching collective identity throughout the revolution. The Warsawian paints a portrait of oppression and the resulting defiance from the working man. Lyrics such as:
“Must the workers still starve today? Brothers shall we keep silent? Can the sight of the gallows frighten the young eyes of our brothers at arms? In the great battle don't let us die without leaving a trace behind. Those who have fallen in honor for an idea, their names in our victory songs shall become sacred to millions of people. ” (Krjijanovsky, G)
were easily applicable to the plight of many members of the Russian populace. People found reason to revolt in such songs because they pointed out all the harms caused by the Tsarist regime and their outdated practices. People were starving and dying in the streets of Russia, and the Tsar refused to do a thing about it simply because the problems did not directly affect him or his family. It was not the wealthy or the elite who disagreed with the Tsar, it was the common Russian.
The Internationale even further inspired the Russian working man to action. Originally written by French writer Eugene Pottier, the Russian version was translated Aron Kots in 1902. Throughout the bars, clubs, and social meeting places of Tsarist Russia, intellectuals and workers alike would gather and sing songs of spirit and optimism in the hopes that one day the working brethren of the world would unite and overthrow the wealthy bourgeoisie, thus ending the eternal class struggle between rich and poor, worker and owner. Lyrics such as:
“Arise, those who are branded with a curse. All the starving people and the slaves of the world, our indignant minds boil, and they are ready to fight to the death. We shall destroy the world of violence to its foundations, and then we shall build a new world. Those that were nothing shall become everything!” (Kots).
Such words stirred up emotion mixed with both anger and optimism. This had such an impact on the mindset of the Russian people because for the longest time, they had been subject to the authority of a regime which had long been outdated and inefficient. Now, however, they were beginning to join together
and voice their concerns and disagreements with the Tsar and his followers.
With the help of The Internationale and other songs, the Russian proletariat was able to group together and form a cohesive collective identity. People joined together and sang along to songs that finally served a purpose. No longer were they going to lie down and take mistreatment from the Tsar or his cronies. Now was the time to stand up and fight. Now was the time for justice. The lyrics to many of the songs of the time served to inspire the working class proletariat of Russia to overthrow the current status quo and strive for something better and more equality driven. However, it was not only the lyrics to the songs that inspired the proletariat. The music, itself, was triumphant in nature. The rousing use of deep, moving instrumentals and swaying crescendos literally brought people to their feet in celebration of life and the capabilities of the human spirit. Songs such as “The Warsawian” and “The International” served to channel the feelings of frustration and dissent with the Tsarist regime and brought the growing sentiments of rebellion into the forefront of the Russian political forum.
The Internationale came to embody the ideas of the Bolshevik Revolution so much so, that it was adopted as the Soviet national anthem until 1944 when it was replaced by the Hymn of the Soviet Union. Up to that point, the song was seen as a rallying point for the proletariat of the Soviet Union, but it soon came to symbolize sentiments of injustice faced by the entire worldwide socialist movement of the early 20th century. Not only did people sing this song of triumph and victory in the bars and underground clubs of Russia, but throughout the underground socialist circles across the world. People all over began to use music as a means to convey ideas or thoughts to one another in an open forum. Accelerated by the lack of a free press, music in Tsarist Russia was one of the primary factors in the formation of a collective identity. However, it was not the only factor in which brought about a unified Bolshevik movement which would finally overthrow the Tsar once and for all.
Music, although vital to the formation of collective identity, was not alone in its importance to the Revolution. Just as important was the Tsar’s inability to adapt to cultural, economic, and political change. Russia was rotting from the inside. As the 20th century came to be, Tsarist Russia trailed all of industrialized Europe in terms of political power and remained a primarily agricultural economy. As a result, Russia lacked the backbone needed to maintain the status as a major player in the world political forum. As the years passed, and as Russia became more and more involved in world affairs, World War I proved to be the final nail in the Tsar’s coffin.
As the war began, the Tsar was met with an initial wave of support from the proletariat working class. Rather than resist the policies of the Tsar, they concentrated their efforts on defeating their German enemies on the battlefield. For a short time, Russia experienced feelings of collective identity. Instead of aiming their sights against the Tsar, the joined together and gave their leader their unquestioned support, putting their collective differences aside. Unfortunately for the Tsar, this unity was short lived. Soon, as food shortages began to mount and labor wages began to falter, unrest began to rise throughout the nation. Now, instead of turning their energy against the foreign German armies, they began to show their discontent with the Tsar and his antiquated policies.
The new feelings of resentment and dissent against the Tsar and his regime culminated in a new collective identity for the proletariat. In addition to the music, their rejection of the old regime was yet another uniting factor for the working men of Russia. They were able to find a common enemy in which affected each and every common man of the motherland. By uniting against the Tsar, and meeting together to sing along in songs of protest and rebellion, the Russians were able to establish a solid collective identity which was centered on the goal of overthrowing the Tsar and replacing him with a new, Marxist communist state.
The actions of the Tsar did not have a direct affect on the establishment of a collective identity. Rather, they had a counter effect on the mind of the Russian populace. By acting in the way in which he did, the Tsar served to turn his own people against him, thus helping create a unified coalition of socialist workers whose sole demand was to put an end to the Tsar and his outdated regime. By alienating his own subjects, he served to provide them with a common enemy, an integral facet of collective identity.
In addition to music and the inaction of the Tsar, there was yet another cause for collective identity for the Russian proletariat. The abundance of charismatic leaders in the Bolshevik Revolution undoubtedly influenced the hearts and minds of Russians across the nation. Men such as Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky proved to inspire and motivate the downtrodden working class into action with their rousing speeches and sweeping promises for change. By pointing out the Tsar and his policies as the main enemy of the Russian people, Lenin managed to unify the Russian people and in the process, formulate a collective identity which allowed for the final Revolution to take place. The Russian working class was finally united under a banner of comradeship and brotherhood, a Soviet Union for the common man. The days of class distinction and elitism were over. Russia could finally live together under a Marxist communist flag, without the threat of class warfare or Tsarist oppression.
Collective identity was vital in the Russian Revolution of 1917. Although vital to its establishment, music was not the only factor in which created the sentiments of unity and comradeship felt throughout the new Soviet Union. The inaction of the Tsar and the charisma of leaders such as Vladimir Lenin were equally important in the development of a unified social movement. Although not the only factor, the importance of music in the movement is undeniable. It served to motivate the proletariat from inaction and inspired them to action. Across the country, people sang “The International” as a celebration of both life in general, and the socialist ideals that would be the blueprint for the Soviet Union.