“Autumn Rain” by Amulanga Azydova (in Kalmyk language)
(Kalmykia is a region of Russian Federation)
This blog is about old postcards, book illustration, history and culture of Russia and the Soviet Union. I'm a long time collector, and this blog is 10 years old.
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Sergei Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf (1936)
We’re being snowed in this wonderful Saturday morning, so it’s the perfect time for some classical music!
The first one is the music of Peter and the Wolf (no narrative). Ignore the video, it’s the only way I could find this version on youtube.
Vancouver Orchestra’s version for kids - with the original narrative
Serving as cherry on top - Benny Goodman’s swing version!
Have a wonderful Saturday guys!
“Music on the Bone” (музыка на костях) was one of the many ways the man fought the system. While a lot of music (especially Western music) was banned in the Soviet Union, bootleggers made illegal records using x-ray film.
These pictures are from the exhibition I visited in St Petersburg. I loved the recreated bootlegger’s room!
Exhibition curated by X-Ray Audio
Get into the Russian mood — here’s some awesome folk music for ya
Over the River Wonder
In the Damp Forest
Порушка-параня (I have no clue what the title means, but it’s the famous one about the Curly Ivan that a girl named Praskovya fancies)
Barynya (Madame)
Kurevushka (Kureva means blizzard in a Siberian dialect). A different mood in this one, but I really really love it.
Music from Pyotr Chaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Sheet music (Russia, c. 1879)
The Fox’s Song, sheet music cover (USSR, 1938)
“Colorful Shawl. A Gypsy Song by E. Orlova” - sheet music cover (USSR, 1929)
Sheet music cover designed by Ivan Bilibin (1911)
“14 Minutes To Launch” by Vladimir Troshin aka the #1 Soviet song about space.
Music by O. Feltzman, lyrics by V. Voinovich. Recorded and published in the autumn of 1960, it became an anthem after Gagarin’s space flight in April 1961.
Merry Christmas to all of my readers who celebrate today!
I went to the local art gallery for a screening of Bolshoi’s Nutcracker today. It was magnificent! Today is a good day to listen to Tchaikovsky. Here’s my gift to you - Soviet animation and timeless music. Enjoy!
Nutcracker, directed by Boris Stepantsev (USSR, 1973)
Illustration by Kirill Ovchinnikov