Symphonic Heritage of Abkhazia: History of Formation and Prospects for Preservation
Authors: Хагба А.А. 
Published: November 2023

В исследовании анализируются этапы эволюции симфонического творчества и исполнительства в Абхазии и определяется современное состояние национального симфонического наследия. Автор опирается на научные работы абхазских ученых, неопубликованные рукописи партитур произведений композиторов, живших и творивших в Абхазии, интервью с музыкантами – участниками событий. Анализируются дореволюционный, довоенный, послевоенный и постсоветский периоды истории музыкальной культуры, становление и распад Государственного симфонического оркестра, процесс формирования композиторской школы и актуальные проблемы, связанные с сохранением наследия композиторов, чье творчество было связано с Абхазией. Определено, что абхазское симфоническое наследие на данном историческом этапе находится в сложном нестабильном состоянии, поэтому сохранить его и передать следующим поколениям можно обеспечив собирание и публикацию музыкальных произведений, их качественное исполнение и фиксацию на цифровых носителях.

The study aims to analyze the formation and development of symphonic art and related heritage in Abkhazia, and to determine the current state of the national symphonic heritage. In the study, the author relies on the works of Abkhaz researchers, interview materials and handwritten texts of musical scores. Methods widely used in historical and cultural research were employed: diachronic, comparative typological and systemic. To collect new data, the author resorted to interviews with participants in the described events. When comprehending the logic of the development of the Abkhaz symphonic art, musicological, historical and sociocultural perspectives were involved. The author considers the period of the emergence of the professional musical art of Abkhazia and analyzes the contribution of Konstantin Kovács and Odysseas Dimitriadi to the formation of professional musical education and a symphony orchestra. The author examines the formation of the national composer school and briefly characterizes the contribution of national composers to the formation of the Abkhazian symphonic heritage. He analyzes factors that influenced the collapse of the State Symphony Orchestra, the circumstances of the reorganization of this group and the formation of the State Chamber Orchestra of the Republic of Abkhazia on its basis, its main creative achievements over the past two decades. The author focuses on the threat of loss of a number of original Abkhaz symphonic works and analyzes a number of projects aimed at minimizing this threat. The conclusion is made about the genre and style diversity of the Abkhazian symphonic heritage, which is an integral part of the musical culture of Abkhazia. During a short historical period, the composers of Abkhazia mastered the genres of symphony and suite (about 26 works), symphonic poem and overture (about 12 works), ballet and opera music. The author emphasizes that composers achieved this largely due to the presence of a professional symphony orchestra in the republic. At this historical stage, the symphonic heritage is in a vulnerable state due to a number of tragic circumstances, a significant part of which occurred during the years of the Patriotic War of the people of Abkhazia (1992–1993). In this regard, the author calls for the adoption of significant measures to preserve the national symphonic heritage, its popularization and transmission to the next generations.