Teoriia Drevle-Russkago tserkovnago i narodnago pieniia, na osnovanii aventicheskikh traktatov i akusticheskago analiza [The theory of ancient Russian church and folk singing, on the basis of authentic tractates and accoustic analysis] [INSCRIBED]
Moscow: Journal "Pravoslavnoie Obozrieniie" 1880. First edition. Hardcover. 4to. 164pp. Original slate paper wrappers printed with black Russian and Church Slavonic lettering and decorative design, rebound in modern brown cloths. Marked as a first issue of a cycle, but subsequent issues were never released. Subtitled, "teoriia provslavnago tserkovnago pieniia voobschie, po ucheniiu ellinskikh i vizantiiskikh pisateleii [the general theory of Orthodox church singing, according to the teachings of the Hellenic and the Byzantine writers]." Scholarly music theory publication, authored by Yuri Karlovich Arnold, an important 19th century Russian music theorist, composer, and critic, particularly famous for his academic research into Russian church music. In the preface, Arnold states, "My book is a first approach towards a strictly-scientific and accoustically developed treatment of the melodic and the harmonic underpinnings of ancient Russian church and folk singing... The entire purpose of my approach is to prove that both our church and our folk singing essentially originates in ancient Hellenic teachings..." Arnold's study is replete with citations, musical notation, and ample references to Greek and Slavonic material. There are four foldouts of extensive charts, the first one with a movable element sliding up and down in the middle. Text in Russian, with extensive Church Slavonic and Greek. Verso of original wrapper beautifully inscribed by Arnold, with a dedication and an 8-line poem in German. Front of wrapper signed by previous owner. Minor discoloration to wrappers. Interior overall clean, with some pencilled German translations of chapter headings. One fold-out chart disconnected, but both sides present. Ex-libris of Hebrew Union College on inside of front rebound board. Tight copy in overall very good condition. vg. Item #22846
Price: $450.00