The Russian Review/Volume 1/April 1916/Literary Notes
Literary Notes.
A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE RUSSIAN BALLET.
The Russian Ballet, prior to the premiere of Diaghilev's Ballet Russe at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris in 1909, while known and appreciated by those who had seen the ballet at Petrograd and Moscow, at the Imperial theatres there, was little known to Western nations, and its literature was small.
After the appearance of the Ballet Russe in Paris in 1909, and in London in 1911, however, the literature on the subject began to grow and to attract some very excellent criticism. The recurring appearance of the Ballet Russe in Paris and London, with occasional visits to Berlin, Milan, Monte Carlo, etc., tended to develop the constantly growing body of appreciative literature. Some of this literature ranks with standard works on the kindred arts of painting, sculpture, architecture, for, associated with the Ballet Russe, are many names eminent in music and art. It was through the labors of such musicians as Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Glazounov, Stravinsky, Dukas, Debussy, Ravel, Borodin, Schumann, Chopin, of such artists as Bakst, Roerich, Benois, Soudiekin, Dobouzhinskv, such masters of the dance as Fokine, Nizhinsky, Miassin, Cechetti, Karsavina, Pavlova, Bohm, Mordkin, that contributed largely to the success of the Ballet Russe.
The object of this note is to give a list of the best that has been written in the English language on the subject of the Russian ballet, its creators and interpreters. Attention should be drawn, however, to some of the standard works in French, particularly M. Calvocoressi's French translation of V. Svetlow's "Le Ballet Contemporain," as well as the critical articles that appeared during 1909-1914 in such publications as the Paris Figaro, Temps, Le Theatre, and Comoedia Illustre.
The following bibliography is by no means exhaustive; it is rather intended to be suggestive, perhaps a starting point for those who are interested in a more or less critical study of the Russian Ballet.
RUSSIAN COLLECTION AT THE YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.
The Yale University Library has one of the finest collections of Russian books in this country. The following statement concerning the collection was kindly prepared for The Russian Review by Mr. Andrew Keogh, the Acting Librarian:
"A collection of Russian books, commenced for us some years ago by a friend whose name we are not permitted to give, has grown by yearly additions from the same source to 6,000 volumes, only a small part of which have hitherto been reported among the yearly accessions of the library. The collection is even more valuable from the care with which the works composing it have been chosen than from its extent. In Russian and other Slavonic bibliography it contains approximately 260 vols.; on the languages of the Russian Empire, Slavonic, Lettic, and Altaic, 676 vols.; in Russian literature, apart from periodicals, 600 vols.; in history and geography, 476 vols, (on Alaska alone, 100 vols.), and 191 maps issued by the war department. But the most important feature of the collection is the large number of periodical publications, both those issued by learned societies and departments of the government and those of a more general character. There are 163 such serials, embracing not far from 4,000 volumes. No effort has been spared to make the sets complete and in most cases they are entirely so. Of the publications of the learned societies of Russia there are 670 vols, (which do not duplicate the 800 vols, already in the University library); of the Ministry of Public Instruction, 360 vols.; of the Ministry of Marine, 308 vols.; of the Ministry of War, 140 vols. Other important series are: Karamzin's Vestnik Evropy 'Messenger of Europe' (Mosc. 1802-80, 174 vols.), and the later journal of the same name (St Petersb., 1866-95, v. 1-176); Russki Vestnik 'Russian Messenger' (Mosc. 1808-20, 42 vols.) and Katkov's Russki Vestnik (Mosc. and St. P., 1856-95, v. 1-241); Syn Otechestva, 'Son of the Fatherland' (St. P., 1812-48. 229 vols.). Otechestvennyia Zapiski, 'Fatherland Papers' (St P., 1818-49, 113 vols.); Severnaia Pochela 'Northern Bee' (St P., 1825-65, from 1831 daily); Moskvitianin 'Moscovian' (Mosc., 1841-49, 52 vols.); Russki Arkhiv 'Russian Archives' (Mosc., 1863-95, v. 1-76); Sbornik of the Imperial Russian Historical Society (St P., 1867-95, v. 1-95); Russkaia Starina 'Russian Antiquity' (St P., 1870-96, v. 1-84); Istoricheski Vestnik 'Historical Messenger' (St. P., 1870-95, v. 1-26); Niva 'Harvest field' (St P., 1870-95, v. 1-26); Russische Revue (St P., 1873-91). The books are in excellent condition and the greater part newly bound.
Thirty of the periodicals in the collection are still published. These will be subscribed for, that the sets may be kept complete."