Stuart, M. D. (2017). Sergei Rudnev and a Discussion of Selected Works from the Russian Collection Volume III. Retrieved from http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_SUMMER2017_Stuart_fsu_0071E_13815

Sergei Rudnev’s collection of Russian folk songs arranged for the classical guitar provide an opportunity for musicians to learn about rural and urban Russian folk songs. Russian guitarists are well-aware of Rudnev both for his classical guitar compositions and for being a great performer. His pieces are performed often in recitals and competitions in Russia. Rudnev is even considered a “national treasure”, yet his popularity in the west is not comparable. The most well-known piece is The Old-Lime Tree, yet others within The Russian Collection Volume III deserve just as much attention. I have chosen to write this treatise on three of the pieces that I performed for my Doctoral Lecture Recital: The Wanderer’s Song, The Old-Lime Tree, and The Snowball Tree. I have also included a fourth piece, Dance Song, to represent the faster folk-dance styles. These four pieces represent some of the different genres of urban and rural Russian folk songs found within the collection. This treatise is meant to be used as a helpful resource for those guitarists seeking additional information on the works found in The Russian Collection Vol. III. Along with my discussion of the pieces, I will also include a short biography of Sergei...