Although Russian classical music is popular throughout the world, it is, perhaps, the Russian folk song that is best known and loved. And the number of Russian folk songs collected and published is enormous. During the 19th century, the composers Liadov, Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky compiled and harmonized hundreds of these songs. The folk songs can be subdivided into many categories: songs with historical themes, songs about real and imaginary national heroes, festive and work songs, and the songs which tell of the struggle for freedom from serfdom.
The plaintive Russian folk song so well-known to Americans as characterizing the Russian "soul" is exemplified by The Black Crow and The Boundless Expanse of the Sea. However, this recording largely typifies the lighter elements of Russian folk music: the laughter of Accordion, the humor of A Fellow On A Spree, the folk-tale quality of My Husband Made Me Do It and The Goat in the Vegetable Garden.
The Siberian Folk Chorus and the Riga Male Quartet make their recording debuts on this release. The other choral groups and soloists are famous both in their country and abroad. The Soviet Army Chorus can be heard on Monitor MP (520 in a program of favorite songs: popular, folk and classical; and Ivan Skobtsov's magnificent bass voice can be heard on MC 2001 in a recording of Russian Folk Songs.
Most of the accompaniments on this recording are played on Russian folk instruments such as bayans (accordions), balalaikas, domras and guitars. The use of these folk instruments preserves the special quality of the songs by the authenticity of the setting.

SIDE ONE
1. ACCORDION
Garmon
Riga Male Quartet: Adolf Pooke, lvar Anson, Rudolf Bruner, Alexander Tuchto with lsyaslav Btankleider, piano
2. THERE STANDS A VILLAGE
Akh, Derevnya Stoyit
Ivan Skobtsov with the Radio Orchestra of Folk Instruments conducted by Grigori Stolyarov
3. THERE'S COLD WATER IN THE WELL
Vo Kolodze Voditsa Kholodna
Ludmilla Zikina with Iasaf Balmashov and Nikolai Khavorshin, balalaikas, Sergei Kolobkov, bayan
4. THE BLACK CROW Chorni Voron
Artur Eisen and Nikolai Abramov with the Soviet Army Chorus and Band conducted by Boris Alexandrov
5. OH, NASTASIA
Akh, Nastasya
Sergei Lemeshev with the Radio Orchestra of Folk Instruments conducted by Victor Smirnov
6. IVAN’S WIFE GETS HIM READY
Kak Ivana-to Khozyaika Sobirala
Siberian Folk Chorus conducted by Valentin Levashov
7. THE BOUNDLESS EXPANSE OF THE SEA
Raskinulos More Shiroko
Ivan Skobtsov with Anatoli Shalayev and Nikolai Krilov, bayans
8. A GIRL WAS WEEDING NETTLE
Oi, Zhala, Zhala, Devchonochka
Yevdokia Ossipova with the Voronezh Folk Chorus conducted by Konstantin Massalitinov and Andrei Mistyakov

SIDE TWO
1. A FELLOW ON A SPREE
Zagulyal Ya Molodets
Ivan Skobtsov with the Radio Orchestra of Folk Instruments conducted by Grigori Stolyarov
2. OH, YOU DARK NIGHT (Oi, Ti Tyomnaya Noch)
Arranged by Andrei Novikov
Siberian Folk Chorus (Women’s Group) conducted by Valentin Levashov
3. THE LITTLE SNOW BALL TREE
Oi, Da Ti Kalinushka
Ivan Kozlovsky with the Soviet Army Chorus and Band conducted by Boris Alexandrov
4. THE MAGIC BREWER
Za Rechenkoy Divo
Piatnitsky Folk Chorus conducted by Vladimir Zakharov and Peter Kazmin
5. THE SLENDER MOUNTAIN ASH
Tonkaya Ryabina
Boris Gmirya with an Ensemble of Folk Instruments conducted by Gavril Zimin
6. MY HUSBAND MADE ME DO IT
Zastavil Menya Muzh
Claudia Kotok with the Folk Instrument Orchestra of the Piatnitsky Chorus conducted by Vassili Khvatov
7. MOTHER-VOLGA
Akh, Ti Volga-Matushka Razlivalasya
Ivan Skobtsov with the Radio Orchestra of Folk Instruments conducted by Grigori Stolyarov
8. THE GOAT IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
Poshel Kozel V Ogorod
Ludmilla Zikina with Nikolai Khavroshin and Iasaf Balmashov, balalaikas

Folk Music on Monitor Records:
IVAN SKOBTSOV, bass, sings RUSSIAN FOLK SONGS..... MC 2001
SONGS AND DANCES OF THE UKRAINE, Vol. I ... MF 301
ARMENIAN FOLK SONGS............................................MF 303

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MONITOR RECORDINGS INC.
Suite 2914, Empire State Building, New York, N. Y.
This recording was processed from the original master tapes by arrangement with Leeds Music Corporation, N. Y.
© 1958, Monitor Records, N. Y.
Cover design: David Chasman; Cover photograph courtesy USSR Magazine from SOVFOTO
For playback on wide range equipment use R. I. A. A. curve
Printed in U. S. A.