Dedicatory Inscription as a Primary Source

Exemplars with dedicatory inscriptions which have been preserved in the funds of Taneev Research Musical Library are of extrinsic value. These autographs present a documented evidence of time, they are additional historical sources which reflect the life events of native musicians and deserve acute attention. Such inscriptions give the opportunity of recalling the reminiscence of donators and donees, and sometimes — of partly reconstruction of private collections. From a large amount of the inscriptions the author selected those which are connected with the names of outstanding professors and graduates of Moscow Conservatory since its foundation. Although the history of Taneev Library funds has been many a time reflected in different publications, the material of the present paper is highlighted for the first time ever.