Russian Folk Songs: Musical Genres and History by Vadim Prokhorov

"Russian folk songs are a living history of the Russian people, rich, vivid and truthful, revealing their entire life," wrote the great Russian writer Nikolai Gogol.

Russian folk songs have always played an essential part in Russian life, culture, and music. They have played an important part in the work of many great Russian composers including Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Prokoviev, and Stravinsky. In this new study, Vadim Prokhorov provides a historical survey and a description of the musical and poetic characteristics of Russian folk song. The songs themselves are classified into several categories: calendar songs, lyric songs, work songs, epic songs, historical songs, and the urban songs that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Prokhorov provides a basis for understanding the ethnomusicological principles of Russian folk song. In addition to his discussion of the various categories, he includes a generous selection of songs arranged for voice and piano, together with texts and translations of the song texts. Anyone interested in this rich repertory of folk song, whether as teacher, singer, or music lover, will find this a rewarding collection.

Review:

Russian Folk Songs: Musical Genres and History by composer, concert pianist and choral conductor Vadim Prokhorov…is a scholarly, college-level analysis written to introduce educators in particular to the diversity and rich cultural lore of Russian folk music. The history of Russian folk songs are discussed at length, as well as detailed musical analysis, and sample songs in full musical notation, presented both in the original Russian and translated into English. Russian Folk Songs is a superbly presented study and deftly written academic reference to a grand, ethnic, and enduring musical tradition.

Russian Folk Songs is a superbly presented study and deftly written academic reference to a grand, ethnic, and enduring musical tradition. (The Bookwatch)

Prokhorov's attractive and valuable book provides a collection of songs for study and performance along with interesting accompanying text…a thoroughly usable book. (Choice)