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PhD (Studies of Аrts), assistant professor, senior researcher of Moscow State Conservatory named
after P. I. Chaykovskiy, member of the Composers’ Union of Russia
The study is based on archival materials of the manuscript archival department of the All-Russian Museum Association Glinka Musical Culture. The author has carried out a review of the Section of studying folk music by Ethnographic subdivision of Music Department (MUZO) of Narkompros (literatim “People’s Komissars” Body on Education) — the first government institution guiding education and culture in Russia post-October period. The author considers the main activities of this section, which has developed in accordance with basic trends, that had formed before the October Revolution in studies of musical folklore areas: collecting, research and educational.
The author has carried out a review of the protocols of the Section and discovered scholarly papers and reports both on new, previously unknown recorded materials, and song collections edited for publication. Section’s publishing projects are described as well. Their classification includes the publication of field records, reprints of the most significant national musical assemblies, Russian translations of books by foreign authors, preparation of study guides on musical folklore, collectors’ questionnaires and programs. Section emphasized on reprint of the famous collection of lyrical songs by N. Lopatin — V. Prokunin with inclusion of previously unknown documents.
Author evaluates the activities of the Section, that proved to be capable of leading the country’s work on the collection and study of folk music, maintaining rich scholar traditions, formed before the October Revolution. Highly professional team of researchers was created in a short time, involving participants of the defunct Musical Ethnographic Commission and re-recruited staff and demonstrated exceptional vitality. Thanks to its vigorous action. it was given a powerful impetus for further development in Russia ethnomusicology as a scholarly and educational discipline was given in the 1920-ies.
Ivanova T. G. Th e State Academy of Arts Studies (GAHN) and its role the History of Russian Folklore Studies in the 1920-ies. The Ethnographic Review. 2009. № 3. Pp. 52–60. In Russian.
Kvitka K. V. Th e Selected Works. In 2 Vol. Moscow, 1971. Vol. 1. In Russian.
Livanova T. N. From the Past of the Soviet Musicology Scholarship (GIMN “Th e State Institute of Musical Scholarship” in Moscow”). From the Past of the Soviet Musical Culture. Moscow, 1975. Pp. 267—335. In Russian.
Lopatin N. M., Prokunin V. P. Russian Lyrical Folk Songs. Moscow, 1956. In Russian.
Tolstoy S. L. V. Prokunin i N. Lopatin: Th eir Life and Works. Th e Works of the State Institute of Musical Scholarship. Th e Collected Works of the Ethnographic Section. Moscow, 1926. Issue 1. Pp. 68—82. In Russian.
Vallacshek R. Primitive Music: An Inquiry into the Origin and Development of Music, Songs, Instruments, Dances, and Pantomimes of Savage Races. London, 1893.