The legacy of early sound recording in America: Sergei Rachmaninov’sSymphonic Dances

This article explores a series of issues related to the advent of recording technology and its role in the evolution of piano performance in Europe and America. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the significance of early recordings for the development of 20th-century musical culture; it examines the impact of recorded musical works on the practices of performers and on piano artistry as a whole. The focal point of the analysis is recordings of works by Sergei Rachmaninov, including those made by the composer himself as well as by other artists. The paper considers the development of recording technology in the 20th century America. The study also addresses the emergence of new cultural and historical meanings, exemplified by Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances. The author traces the evolutionary nature of interpretative art and identifies an evolving range of performance techniques.