NEW SONGS OF KUBAN COSSACKS

MOSCOW, February 8 (RIA Novosti) - The famous Kuban Cossack Choir is recording a new CD dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. The choir's tour over hero cities in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus and trip on the war roads of the Cossack cavalry corps which liberated the Kuban region is also dedicated to this anniversary. The program will end in the Far East with the concert entitled "And Their Campaign Ended on the Pacific Ocean", reports the web site of Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper.

Compositions by St. Petersburg composer Alexander Chaikovsky written especially by Kuban artists will premiere during the Victory Day celebrations in May. An oratorio for soloists, reciters, choir and symphony orchestra will premiere in Krasnodar on May 6. The Russian Requiem will be dedicated to the soldiers killed during the war.

Today the Kuban region is populated by descendants of Cossacks. The glorious warriors have defended Russia's southern borders for centuries. The song and dance culture of Kuban Cossacks is an original branch of Slavonic (Russian and Ukrainian) culture which acquired unique features due to the exotic and generous nature of the Caucasus and the culture of Caucasian nations. Cossacks borrowed the Circassian national dress and their songs and dances acquired Caucasian rhythms and movements.

The Kuban Military Choir dates back to 1811. Today the Kuban Cossack Choir is one of Russia's best artistic ensembles. It also comprises a dancing group and an orchestra.

The Cossack choir toured all over the world and has thousands of admirers.