Russian Music Publishing Business: From Commerce to Philanthropy

Abstract

In the history of Russian music publi­shing business, there are some areas that require a further study of extensive factual material in terms of succession of times and generations, traditions and experience, individual and common. The process of Russian music publishing formation resul­ted in a unique thought-creating space, which united in a single whole the spiritual and the material, commerce and philanthropy. The economic side of the issue in this case is the most indicative, demonstrating the various analytical perspectives, which create an idea of the mechanisms of entrepreneurial activity in the market of production and marketing of non-printed products, the problems of innovative approach in the field of improving production capacity, the emergence of a whole galaxy of merchants-patrons-educators.Hence, “homo musicus” and “homo financicus” are outstanding representatives of the Russian music publishing business, which opens the prospect of studying personal profiles in the history of philanthropy and charity and creates prerequisites for understanding the unity of financial, economic and artistic spheres. The article aims to study the professional features that allow to determine the genesis of commercial and creative in the most successful music publi­shing business projects implemented in the second half of the 19th century. Of particular interest are the famous names, specifically, M.P. Belyaev, who was a symbol of high service to the musical art. Promoting the works of young Russian composers, providing them with all-round assistance and support, M.P. Belyaev became the first “musical missionary” and educator. His financial activity was deeply patriotic and connected with high spiritual ideals of service to society.These grounds can be used for further study of Russian music publishing business, philanthropy and charity in their inseparable interconnection.