Re: [ARSCLIST] Soviet Recordings

[Karl Miller <karl.miller@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My knowledge of Russian recordings is limited to recordings of classical music...and consists mainly of vague recollections.  I assume you have looked at the Bennett "Melodiya: a Soviet Russian L.P. discography." As I recall there is some information about the label in the opening pages of the book. I can check my copy if you like.
   
  Russian recordings were, at least at one time, sold in the US under the label, MK or Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga As I recall MK records (LPs) were distributed by a company in New Jersey...or was it on Long Island...my memory is cloudy... They were also issued on other labels like Bruno and Westminister, etc. I have a vague recollection of seeing mention of a company named Leeds, perhaps as in "issued under a license from Leeds?" I also recall that name in relationship to some scores I have. Leeds was, at one time, a major music publisher. I do not know the history of that company or its relationship to Russian publishers but I believe that there is a Leeds Music (as in Lou Levy?) that is now part of MCA. And not to be confused with a new music company founded in the last few years, which also has the name Leeds. I do have some Russian music scores printed in the former Soviet Union, things like Symphonies of Prokofieff...all on that lousy paper, which, as I recall, I got at 4
 Continents. 
   
  When I was a kid I would shop in the Four Continents Book Store in New York. I still have a few of their catalogs. Again, this is only my recollection from about 45 years ago, but I recall they were an importer, or an outlet for an importer of things Russian. They were, at that time, the best source I knew of to obtain Russian recordings. They had a large selection of records for sale as well as print material...on very cheap, acidic paper...I still have two bound catalogs, printed in Russia, of Russian discs.
   
  The wiki article on Melodiya is not very helpful...as it places the origin of the company in 1964. There is a Melodiya company online which says it began in 1964. The label started much earlier than that. There were, as I recall, plenty of Russian discs issued in the 78 rpm era. By the way, one item on my want list is a set of 78s of the Khachaturian Second Symphony, conducted by Gauk....just in case anyone has it. I recall only one reference to it, a review.
   
  As for your mention of the "World's Fair" recording...which World's Fair? I do have a disc, a ten inch lp as I recall, which features music from a ballet. The cover mentions that the disc was issued in conjunction with a World's Fair. I can check if it is of interest.
   
  And once again, bringing up the name of David Canfield...Dave took many record buying trips to the former Soviet Union...which explains where I got some of those records not listed in the Bennett.  You might want to contact the good Doctor should that aspect be of any interest.
   
  Karl
Natalie Zelensky <nzelensky@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
  Hello, 

I am trying to gather information on the early distribution of Soviet recordings in the US.

1. What was the first recording of Soviet songs that was released in the US? (year?; label? contents?) 

2. I also am trying to find more information regarding subsequent distribution of recordings of Soviet songs in the US. (Labels?; History?; Would the companies simply copy from eachother and resell under their respective labels?). Based on my research in American and Russian-American papers, it appears that Stinson and the "Am-Rus Music Corporation" were the first distributors of these records - is this true? Does anyone know anything else about this "Am-Rus" company? 

3. Could anyone tell me more about the "World's Fair" recording. (Year?; Contents?; Performers?). 

4. Does anyone have any suggestions for sources about early Soviet recordigs in the US?

Thank you very much.

N. Zelensky
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook ? together at last.  Get it now.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL100626971033