The lost pianos of Siberia
Roberts, Sophy2020
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Siberia's story is traditionally one of exiles, penal colonies and unmarked graves. Yet there is another tale to tell. Dotted throughout this remote land are pianos - grand instruments created during the boom years of the Nineteenth Century, and humble, Soviet-made uprights that found their way into equally modest homes. They tell the story of how, ever since entering Russian culture under the influence of Catherine the Great, piano music has run through the country like blood. How these pianos travelled into this snow-bound wilderness in the first place is testament to noble acts of fortitude by governors, adventurers and exiles. That stately instruments might still exist in such a hostile landscape is remarkable. That they are still capable of making music in far-flung villages is nothing less than a miracle. But this is Siberia, where people can endure the worst of the world - and where music reveals a deep humanity in the last place on earth you would expect to find it.
Main title:
The lost pianos of Siberia / Sophy Roberts.
Author:
Imprint:
London : Doubleday, an imprint of Transworld, 2020.
Collation:
433 pages : illustrations, portraits, maps ; 23 cm.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents:
Pianomania 1762-1917: Music in a sleeping land: Sibir -- Traces in the snow: Khabarovsk -- Siberia is 'Civilized': St Petersburg to the Pacific -- The Paris of Siberia: Irkutsk -- Pianos in a Sandy Venice: Kiakhta -- The sound of Chopin's Poland: Tomsk -- Home in a hundred years: Sakhalin Island -- Broken chords 1917-1991: The last Tsar's piano: The Urals -- The end of everything: The Altai Mountains -- The Moscow of the East: Harbin -- Beethoven in a Red Chum: The Yamal Peninsula -- Music in the Gulag Archipelago: Kolyma -- The Siberian Colosseum:: Novosibirsk -- Vera's M©ơhlbach: Akademgorodok -- Goodness knows where 1992-Present day: A game of risk: Kamchtka -- Siberia's last piano: The Commanders to the Kurils -- Provenance regained: Khabarovsk -- Epilogue: The Orkhon Valley.
ISBN:
9780857524959
Dewey class:
915.704864957
Language:
English
Subject:
Roberts, Sophy -- Travel -- Russia (Federation) -- SiberiaRoberts, Sophy -- TravelPianos -- Russia (Federation) -- SiberiaKeyboard instruments -- HistoryPiano -- Siberia (Russia) -- HistoryMusic -- Social aspects -- Siberia (Russia)Musical instruments -- Siberia (Russia) -- HistoryRussia -- History -- Catherine II, 1762-1796Russia -- History -- Nicholas II, 1894-1917Siberia (Russia) -- Description and travel
BRN:
365106
More Information:
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumaris Library | Adult Non Fiction - History | 957 ROB | Available |
| Brighton Library | Adult Non Fiction - History | 957 ROB | Available |