Customer Reviews

A History of Russian Music: From Kamarinskaya to Babi Yar

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This book was required for my Russian Music History class, and so to save money, I bought it off Amazon. However, the great thing about this being our textbook is that it reads like a novel. It's very descriptive, gives all the information you might need on any particular major Russian composer, along with a lot of interesting background insight that helps the understanding of the music and composers even more. The history of Russia at the time of the composers is also included within and so this really is a great all around Russian Music History book. I'd recommend it to anyone needing information the topic.

"A History of Russian Music," by Francis Maes, could have been better titled: "Music's Place in the History of Russia and the Soviet Union." Though there are some basic definitions given (scattered on pages throughout), there is not one musical example of any of the folk song types listed. For example, no one will, after reading this book alone, understand what a "protyazhyana" is, other than a "drawn-out song." One could say the same about any of Kenny G's music. Analysis of the music is limited. The author obviously assumes the reader has no knowledge of music theory. For example, in a particularly pedantic passage, he acknowledges that his explanation of the octatonic scale "sounds complicated." If you are interested in "play by play" examination of opera plots, etc., then this is the book for you. For an actual understanding of Russian musical style, there are better sources. This book appeared to be a dumbed-down version of Richard Taruskin's scholarship - one will note Taruskin is the most cited author in the book. All in all, not bad for the musical novice, and a great look at how music fit in with the history of Russia and the Soviet Union, but lacks clarity and detail in its definitions, and is without the technical analysis required for scholarly research. More frustrating than helpful. Great cover art though.

The two copies I ordered arrived promptly and in pristine shape. The price was right,
the service impeccable. Bravo to both Amazon and the bookseller!
The book is a revelation: thorough, insightful, provocative and accurate. I recommend it as
a must for anyone interested in Russian classical music.