Paris, N. L. Danzig, 1919
The first edition of Valentin Parnakh's collection of poems with striking lithographs by Goncharova inspired by her travels to Spain. Parnakh left war-torn Russia and moved to Paris in 1916 where he befriended Goncharova and Larionov. The trio had a fruitful artistic relationship, also working together on Slovodvig (1920) and L'Art décoratif théâtral moderne (1919).
Parnakh had studied music in Russia under Mikhail Gnessin (as well as theatre under Meyerhold) and fell in love with jazz when he heard it for the first time in Paris. He decided to move back to the Soviet Union and formed the first jazz band or 'Eccentic Orchestra' as he called it, using tam-tams, saxophones and trumpet sordinos he'd brought with him from France. The Comintern were fans of his music, inviting his band to play at the Agriculture Expo and were very proud that jazz was being performed at state functions, something which would never happen in the West. Meyerhold also appointed him director of music and choreography at his theatre troupe. Parnakh's poetry was not so popular with the censor, however, and he left for Paris in 1925, only to return to the Soviet Union yet again in WWII where he was evacuated to Chistopol with Tsvetaeva.
First edition, 8vo (23 x 16 cm); 43pp., 3 plates after Goncharova, 2 of which are printed in colour; original printed wrappers, light browning to margins, minor loss to lower right corner, spine split but holding fine, a fresh example.
Parnakh had studied music in Russia under Mikhail Gnessin (as well as theatre under Meyerhold) and fell in love with jazz when he heard it for the first time in Paris. He decided to move back to the Soviet Union and formed the first jazz band or 'Eccentic Orchestra' as he called it, using tam-tams, saxophones and trumpet sordinos he'd brought with him from France. The Comintern were fans of his music, inviting his band to play at the Agriculture Expo and were very proud that jazz was being performed at state functions, something which would never happen in the West. Meyerhold also appointed him director of music and choreography at his theatre troupe. Parnakh's poetry was not so popular with the censor, however, and he left for Paris in 1925, only to return to the Soviet Union yet again in WWII where he was evacuated to Chistopol with Tsvetaeva.
First edition, 8vo (23 x 16 cm); 43pp., 3 plates after Goncharova, 2 of which are printed in colour; original printed wrappers, light browning to margins, minor loss to lower right corner, spine split but holding fine, a fresh example.
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