Beschreibung:

ROBESON, PAUL Signed sheet music of Russian folk songs . [Russia: circa 1934-35]. 4 pp. printed sheet music with color printed wrapper in Cyrillic dated 1934, signed at upper right "Paul Robeson", in Robeson's hand at upper left is additionally written "Folk Songs". 14 x 10 1/8 inches (36 x 27.5 cm). Edges toned, short tears into margin of music not affecting cover. Paul Robeson first visited Russia in December of 1934 at the invitation of Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein to discuss making a film on the life of Toussaint L'Ouverture. Robeson became intensely interested in the lack of discrimination within Russian society, reporting in 1935 "Here, I am not a Negro but a human being ... here for the first time in my life ... I walk in full human dignity." Robeson would record Russian folk songs throughout his career and this sheet music, printed in the year of his first visit, carries a powerful association. C