Russian Research, Day 1

Today was a great day!  It was stressful and slow in the middle- but it turned out wonderfully. 

I woke up this morning at 4:30 AM.  I had meant to wake up at 5:30 AM, but the sun rises just before 4:00 AM.  There must have been a noise or something jarring, because I woke up early and had a difficult time getting back to sleep.  I was extremely tired, because I couldn’t fall asleep until after 1:00 AM.   Okay, this is a long enough paragraph about waking up and sleep.

We took the metro to the bus stop, and the bus was waiting at the station when we arrived.  We boarded immediately and paid the 340 rubles for two tickets (a little over $6 for the two of us... about $3 for a one way, one person).  I said “Tchaikovsky Square” in Russian.  Kind of.  I actually said, “Of Tchaikovsky square” in Russian.  But the driver understood.  The bus ride out was easy enough.  Some farm land.  It actually looks a lot like the Midwest as far as landscape.  A lot of green, a lot of trees.

We got to Klin a little over an hour early.  The Tchaikosvky Museum was not open, and we went to a café that was selling pastries and coffee (espressos and Americanos) in a BP.  Yes- a BP.  Like we have in the states.  We then traversed over to the Tchaikovsky Museum, read some signs, and took pictures.  At about 9:45 AM (it opens at 10), we went in because the main hall was open.  I spoke to security- who asked me fairly quickly if I needed to see the exact woman I needed to see. 

After a few minutes, we were led through a back hallway, into the basement, around some corners, down a hall, around to the right, and at the end of the hall, there was a small research room.  They call it a reading room.  I washed my hands, was given some forms to fill out by the only woman who speaks a little English.  I filled them out (although I didn’t know some of the words.  I had no internet access so I couldn’t look it up.  I felt so silly).  Then they brought me the fond (Фонд) in which I was to look up opis (Опись) and write down the number.  This was an order form, of sorts.  So, I filled out every line on the order form (maybe 25 different manuscripts).  I still want to order more documents.  I asked the lady if it was a lot.  Actually, I didn’t know how to ask that, so I simply said, “Много?“ And she told me it was normal (in Russian). 

I was quite frustrated at my lack of ability to communicate in Russian.  I’ve been studying for just over a year- and I can communicate some, but trying to do scholarly work and answer questions can be very frustrating.   It's harder to understand when people speak fast.  

I received my documents about 40 minutes later.  Actually, I only received about half of them.  Not even.  I looked through them, and then asked to make copies.  This was the business- I had 42 pages I needed copied.  And it cost 150 rubles- or 6300 entotal.  I’m not going to tell you how much that is in dollars.  It’s quite a bit of money, and I’ll have to get more copies.  But they can charge me because I need it (I was told 100 rubles per copy via email about a month or two ago, but I don’t want to argue.  I don’t know Russian well enough and I want them to help me, not hinder).  So I paid.  I will get the documents tomorrow.  I returned the manuscripts and will get the other manuscripts I ordered tomorrow.  I suppose this is the cost of research.

In preparation for tomorrow, I will need to make a list of the other documents I need.  They will try to pull them for me tomorrow.  I’m hoping I can get two loads of documents looked at tomorrow- plus get copies made.  I’m also taking notes on the documents (their physical qualities).  So, a lot of work needs to be done tonight. 

There was a lot of writing involved.  I couldn’t take the list of documents with me (it was in a book I was looking through), so I copied it by hand.  I asked about taking a picture, but they said no.  Over 500 documents in this one book of Taneyev.  There are many, many more books, too, but those contain other works- not his choral music.  I’m very grateful I had the foresight to start copying the list by hand while I was waiting for my order. 

The women working in the reading room are very kind.  One of them knows a few English words.  However, she mainly communicates in Russian.  By the end of the day, I was a little less frustrated with my Russian.  I don’t know if I got any better as the day went on, but I became more strategic with the words I used.  I have to simplify all my thoughts.  It’s very humbling.  The archivist I am working with speaks English, and she told me I could come Wednesday, even though the sign to the Tchaikovsky Museum says it is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

I spent a lot of the day working, focusing, and waiting.  It wasn’t until the end of the day that I felt like I made progress.  I have some music I can use in my dissertation!  Once I transcribe it, at least.  This was quite an experience. 

The other thing I need to do is make a list of manuscripts I haven’t found which I need to find.  I will look for these at the Glinka Museum. 

Overall, this was a very successful day.  I felt like I was communicating better at the end.  People were kind and helpful.  I will hopefully receive my first batch of photocopies tomorrow.  And... I had the opportunity to look at, to touch, and to examine Taneyev manuscripts.