Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > December 2001 > 2001.12.11 > 01Prev  Next


Mechanical Musical Instruments of Russia
By Mark Reinhart

While I have no first hand knowledge of what was made in Russia,
I do know that Welte-Mignon rolls were both recorded and sold there.
In 1910 the Welte-Mignon recording equipment was transported from
Freiburg to Russia and a great number of recordings were made.  Such
luminaries as Scriabin, Goldenweiser and Glazounov were recorded for
Welte-Mignon.  Many lesser known performers who might otherwise be
unknown were also recorded for posterity.

Additionally, many works which were "Russian" in nature were recorded:
Borodin, Cui, Korestchenko and Rachmaninoff are included.  Here we
find the first complete recording of Moussorgsky's "Pictures at an
Exhibition."  Most of the rolls numbered between 1900 and 2150 would
be considered part of the Russian recording sessions.  Check the
Smith/Howe Welte-Mignon book for a precise listing.  This was very
progressive for the time.

Likewise, the Welte-Mignon was sold in Russia.  I purchased a
collection of rolls offered to me from a Steinway-Welte piano which
was shipped from Russia to New York in recent times.  The rolls were
all without boxes and label information bore no particular inscription.
Some of the titles were translated and written in pencil on the leaders
in Cyrillic.  I have no literature from Russia.  I have often wondered
if a Russian language catalog was ever prepared.

I would be very interested in seeing any Russian Welte-Mignon literature
in the possession of any MMD member.

Mark Reinhart


(Message sent Tue 11 Dec 2001, 15:53:55 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Instruments, Mechanical, Musical, Russia

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page