The Imperial Family and Their Music

[Maria_Vanya]

I know this has nothing to do with music, but it has to do with sound. When the I.F made their home-movies, did they have good sound like we do now? I think they did but I am not for sure. I have a video with one of their home-movies on it but the sound they had on there didn't sound original, it sounded like people added in the sound. Any answers?

[nerdycool]

I don't think they had sound at all for moving pictures. This is during the era of the silent movie and the movies in general had live piano or organ playing with the film. So I would think the IF had the ability to make sound and record it, but just not while they were filming... there would be two different machines for the process, so it most likely was added in later.

[Maria_Vanya]

Yea, I was thinking about how they could have had sound in there since it was the silent movie era. Thanks for the info nerdycool!!:)

[Maria_Vanya]

I am not sure if we already covered this, but did any members at all of The Romanov family like music played in America???

[masha]

Maria-Vanya:

I recall somewhere the faster set of the family - the Vladimiritchi (Boris & Andrei) & the Tsar's brother, Michael & Countess Brassova, as well as GD Dimitry & Felix Youssoupov seem to have collections of jazz recordings. Sorry to not remember where I read this, as it was from several different books read many years ago.

Masha

[Maria_Vanya]

Thank you Masha!

[grandduchessella]

Seems that Ella also learned to play a bit:

Grand Duchess Elizabeth to Tsar Nicholas II, 11 April
1897
Darling Nicky,
....I can now play enough of the balalaika to show you and Alix so if we have some free moments a trois, I can
show you it is quite easy, only I won't bring my
instrument, perhaps one of the soldiers can lend his....
God bless you, dear Boy. Your loving Sister,
Ella

[etonexile]

Do any know the sorts of music the IF listened to?...gramaphone recordings?...I can imagine the GD's fox-trotting and bunny-hugging in their rooms...and laughing.....

[ferngully]

the small pair danced to loud music very loud when alix had company, so maybe the music of the time? maybe classical for the big pair and jazz for the small pair?   (not sure if it was popular then) overall i think maybe classical
selina              xxxxxxxxx

[Ortino]

Jazz wasn't around when they were young. Not until the 20's really. They might have listened to Ragtime music though.

[etonexile]

I wonder if there might be inventory lists of things purchased which might list recorded music....or any diary references...?

[Linnea]

Hello, you all! I´ve searched for this all over the forum, but didn´t find anything. I would like to know if some members of the Imperial Family had musical talent? What about OTMA? Did they play any instruments? Are there any photos of the IF playing instruments?

[clockworkgirl21]

I know Alekandra, Olga, and Tatiana played the piano. I don't know about Maria and Anastasia and the piano. There's a Russian instrument Anastasia and Aleksey played called the balalaika, and I probably spelled that wrong. I've seen a few pics of them playing instruments, but not many.

[Tatia]

Alix also sang, and quite good too. And I believe she liked to play the piano with Anna Vyrubova.

[Sarushka]

Yes, according to Vyrubova's memoirs, she and Alix played four-handed piano duets and sang. (Alix a contralto, Anya a soprano).