Semion Chernetsky
Semion Chernetsky was a Russian and Soviet military conductor, composer, organizer and leader of military orchestras, and music teacher. Born Solomon Shaevich Chernetsky on October 23, 1881, in Odessa, he grew up in a musical family. His mother taught him music, and he studied trombone and piano in Odessa and Chisinau before enrolling at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1911. He graduated in 1917, studying conducting with Nikolai Tcherepnin, orchestration with Maximilian Steinberg and composition with Jāzeps Vītols; Alexander Glazunov also taught him.
Chernetsky began his career as a military bandmaster in 1903. He later served in Odessa and taught music and choral singing at local schools. From 1918, he held senior posts in the organization and direction of military bands. In 1924 he became inspector of military bands for the Red Army. He formed the Moscow Garrison’s massed orchestra in 1926 and, in 1928, the Central House of the Red Army Symphony Orchestra. In 1935 he formed and led the Defense Commissariat Orchestra, remaining its director until 1949.
He helped establish orchestras across military districts and academies and developed performance methods and service repertoire for military bands. Chernetsky also worked to train military musicians, creating schools and conducting classes. In 1935 he helped establish a military faculty at the Moscow Conservatory, where he taught conducting and military-band repertoire. He received the title of professor in 1946.
Chernetsky wrote more than 100 marches, as well as songs and other works. His marches included “Parade March,” “Rokossovsky,” “Moscow Salute” and “Tankmen’s March.” He received the title Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1936 and the Stalin Prize, Second Class, in 1946 for his concert performance work. A stroke in 1946 forced him to withdraw from active service. He died in Moscow on April 13, 1950, and was buried at Novodevichy Cemetery.