March of the Soviet Militia

The "March of the Soviet Militia" (Марш советской милиции), Op. 139 is a march for military band composed in 1970 by Dmitri Shostakovich.

History
Shostakovich composed the "March of the Soviet Militia" in October 1970 at the request of Nikolai Shchelokov, then Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR. Sources disagree about whether the work bears a dedication. According to Maxim Shostakovich, Pauline Fairclough, and Derek C. Hulme, Shostakovich dedicated the work to his deceased friend, writer and satirist Mikhail Zoshchenko. The editor for the new collected works edition of the score, however, states that the score has no dedication.

The work was published by Sovietsky kompozitor, Muzika, and DSCH Publishers in 1972, 1978, and 2006 respectively. It is Shostakovich's final ceremonial work for the Soviet government.

Music
The tempo for "March of the Soviet Militia" is marked "Allegretto." The band consists of the following instruments:


 * Woodwinds
 * 1 flute
 * 3 clarinets


 * Brass
 * 3 French horns
 * 2 cornets
 * 2 trumpets
 * 2 saxhorns
 * 2 tenor saxhorns
 * 2 baritone saxhorns
 * 1 trombone
 * 2 double-bass trombones


 * Percussion
 * timpani
 * triangle
 * snare drum
 * cymbals
 * bass drum

A typical performance takes approximately 1 1/2–2 minutes.

Premiere and reception
The "March of the Soviet Militia" was premiered at the House of the Unions in Moscow on November 10, 1970. It was the featured work at an evening ceremony celebrating Soviet Militia Day. The work was premiered by the Exemplary Orchestra of the Office of the Kremlin Commandant conducted by Nikolai Zolotaryov; they also made its first recording in 1971 for Melodiya. It won first prize at the All-Union Competition for the Best Literary, Artistic, and Musical Work About Internal Affairs Staff.

Shostakovich biographer and researcher Levon Akopyan listed "March of the Soviet Militia" as one of the composer's "manifestations of conformity" about which it was "better not to remember."