Book excerpt: As in the Tchaikovsky edition, this volume includes the Russian texts to the complete 82 songs of Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov, including IPA transcriptions with literal and idiomatic English translations. Professor Richter views the publication of these books not only as the fulfillment of an ambition of many years, but also as the filling of a genuine need. Current standards of Russian diction among Western singers leave much to be desired, which is attributable in part to the inconsistent transliterations traditionally used in the publication of Russian vocal music, providing at best a crude approximation of Russian speech sounds. A correct, exact transcription for representing sung Russian to non-Russian singers has long been sorely needed. - Publisher.