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[MUSIC] Persimfans. Zhurnal Pervogo simfonicheskogo ansamblia : Zasluzhennogo Kollektiva Respubliki [i.e. Persimfans. Magazine of the First Symphony Ensemble: [of] Honored Collective of Republic]. #2,8,11 for 1927-28. Overall 3 issues

Item #2579

Moscow: Izd. Pravlenie Persimfansa, 1927-1928. Size varies. In original illustrated wrappers.
#1 Very good, some stains on front cover and first pages.
#2 Near fine, some stains on covers.
#11 Very good, vertical crease on the front cover and some stains on t.p.
Print run varied 2000-4000 copies. Cover and logo design was produced by graphic artist Pavel Pavlinov.

Being the earliest Moscow orchestra, Persimfans (abbreviation of the First Symphony Ensemble) was an extraordinary initiative brought to life an idea of socialism inside the orchestra. The group of overall 100 musicians played music without a conductor in 1922-1932. It was initiated by violinist Lev Tsetlin (1881-1952). He was one of the main members of this collective and influenced a lot the development of Soviet music until he was suffered from the 1950s antisemitic campaign. He also became the first editor of this magazine.
Persimfans’ first concert (1922) caused a lot of rumors and attracted all conductors who were in the city. The group was regarded as a short-lived experiment, “headless horseman”, but got good responses as well. It was no doubt experiment and gathered enthusiasts: all members worked in the Bolshoi theater and rehearsed as Persimfans in free time. By 1927, it held more than 200 performances, had government support and was rewarded as Honored Collective of Republic. It was acclaimed and originated other unconducted orchestras worldwide. In the USSR, similar groups appeared in Tbilisi, Kharkiv and Voronezh.
They played works by pre-revolutionary composers, as well as contemporary musicians: Stravinsky, Schillinger, Prokofiev (he joined orchestra personally during his tour in 1927), Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, Myaskovsky and others.

The magazine included concert programs, articles on composers and their works, chronicle of Soviet music life. It contains photographs of orchestra, as well as photographic and drawn portraits of composers.

Price: $350.00