Pesniary

Pesniary combined various types of music, but it mostly used Belarusian folklore though often with various psychedelic rock elements and later rock as well. Several of Pesniary's songs were composed by Aleksandra Pakhmutova. The surprising influence of early Frank Zappa was also notable. The band often used lyrics from the famous Russian and Belarusian poets of the past. Pesniary's favourite was Yanka Kupala. The band adapted his poems into stage musicals twice: Pesnia o Dole (Song of Fate, 1976) and Guslar (1980), the latter also released as a concept album.

Among their best known songs are "Kasiu Jas Kaniushynu", "Belovezhskaya Pushcha", "Belorussiya" and "Alesia".

Pesniary was the best-known Soviet group from the Belorussian SSR. It was one of the very few Soviet bands (and possibly the first one) to tour in America in 1976. They toured the American South with folk band The New Christy Minstrels. 1974-1980 is considered the Golden Age of the band when it achieved top popularity in the USSR, Eastern Europe and in other countries.

In 1979, after the success of the rock opera Guslar, the whole band was awarded the honorary title Merited Artist of the Soviet Union, and Mulyavin personally received a higher title of People's artist.

After Mulyavin's death in a car accident on 26 January 2003, the original Pesniary split. About five different bands claim to be the official descendants of the original Pesniary and tour and perform original Pesniary songs[3]. These are:

• Belarusian State Ensemble Pesniary – a state-produced band under the Ministry of Culture of Belarus, consisting mostly of young musicians.
• Belorusskie Pesniari – led by former Pesniary saxophonist Uladzislau Misevich.
• Pesniari – led by former Pesniary vocalist Leanid Bartkevich.
• Liavony – the band, which split from Bartkevich’s Pesniari in 2008, consisted of young musicians, none of whom participated in Pesniary until 1998.
• Until 2006, the Liavony-Pesniary ensemble existed under the direction of the classical line-up drummer Alexander Demeshko. The band broke up in 2006 in connection with his death. The keyboardist of the old squad Vladimir Nikolajev also participated in the group.

The band also released dozens of singles.

The lineup of the band changed frequently. Among the most notable and long-lived band members were:

• Vladimir Muliavin (guitar, vocals, 1968–2003)[4]
• Valery Muliavin (guitar, trumpet, 1968–1973)
• Leonid Bartkevich (vocals, 1969–1980)
• Anatoly Kasheparov (vocals, 1970–1990)
• Valery Dayneka (vocals, alto, 1976–1992)
• Igor Penya (vocals, 1980–1998)
• Leanid Tyshko (bass guitar, 1968–1981)
• Vladislav Misevich (saxophone, flute, 1968–1992)
• Alexander Demeshko (drums, 1968–1988)
• Valery Yashkin (keyboards, hurdy-gurdy, 1968–1977)
• Vladimir Nikolajev (keyboards, trombone, 1971–1980)
• Cheslav Poplavsky (violin, guitar, 1972–1979)

• Soviet music
• Belarusian music

• “Pesnyary”- official website of the group (БЕЛОРУССКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ АНСАМБЛЬ "ПЕСНЯРЫ"-официальный сайт
• PESNIARY(PESNYARY)
• Pesniary Music Albums
• «Песняры»-unofficial website
• Pesniary discography at Discogs