Stronger than death (Andrey Reshetin)

In 2022-2023, Andrei Reshetin served fourteen months in the First Front-line Creative Brigade during the Special Military Operation. He was the only volunteer in it, the rest of the artists were mobilized. He was hospitalized with a stroke and dismissed by age shortly before his 61st birthday.

Dedication of the author

This album is made up of music that I played at the front. It is dedicated those who are at the front, those in hospitals, those whom God called to the Host of Heaven, to those who pray for us, to those waiting

Andrey RESHETIN violinist, SVO veteran

Compositions

1. Heinrich Ignaz Franz BIEBER (1644-1704) - Sonata "Annunciation"

2. Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) - "Chacona"

3. BIEBER - Sonata "Crucifixion"

4. Ivan Evstafievich KHANDOSHKIN (1747-1804) - "Marcia" - 1st part from Sonata in G minor

5. HANDOSHKIN - "In Motion (of Feeling)" - Part 2 from Sonata in G Minor

6.7.8.9. BAH - Sonata in E minor Prelude/Adagio/Allemanda/Giga

Listen to the album

• Composition Files Folder - Published by TAdviser with permission from the author.

Performers

• Andrey Reshetin - violin
• Irina Schneerova - harpsichord

Tool wizards:

• violin AXL (Boris Axelrod) Saint Petersburg, 1982
• harpsichord Rainer Schütze Heidelberg, 1976

Record

The recording was made thanks to the friendly support of Orest Ibragimov-Axelrod.

Sound engineer Vladimir Ryabenko.

Recorded in the Maltese Chapel of Emperor Paul І in St. Petersburg during Lent 2024.

Photo from the front and comments by Andrei Reshetin

Photo in the design of the disc by Yevgeny Pavlov.

TAdviser: What composers did you have to perform at the front?

The repertoire at the front included Handoshkin, mainly the second part of this sonata. Bach played, most often Chacón, usually in fragments. He often began his performance with the Bach Prelude, the first part of the violin sonata with a harpsichord. Bieber the Annunciation often played. That is, the disc includes exactly the works that I played at the front.

Bieber's Crucifixion added to them, because it corresponds to the meaning of the Album and the first part of Handoshkin Marcia. Pun, Marsh and Mars. That is, a mourning march about warriors. I didn't play it at the front, but here it is necessary.

Perhaps you could describe your attitude to each play on the disc?

The attitude is simple, Russia has always gone to the southern lands not only with the power of weapons, but also with the power of its culture. Our 1FTBR, the First Front-line Creative Brigade, created by the Ministry of Defense, was just such a unit. Actors, singers, musicians, circus artists, we were all simple soldiers. Our main combat task was, of course, to breathe strength into our fighters. But broadly, as we understood her, it's a battle for hearts and minds. On the front line and in the rear. This requires personal transformation, internal growth, which each of us tried to follow.

It is worth adding that our commander, Senior Lieutenant Arakelyan, is a very worthy military officer. The success of our work largely depended on him, was associated with him.

I write in the past tense, because since the end of January 2024 I have been retired. By age. Our division continues to carry out its tasks. And I had the opportunity to record the Album in memory of those with whom I fought shoulder to shoulder, to honor the memory of our departed brothers, to convey our Truth here, in a peaceful life, including those who doubt it. Music can often be something words can't.

Not quite specifically answered the question, but as it seems, in essence.

• Interview about the album with Andrei Reshetin in Rossiyskaya Gazeta (June 2024)