The first volume delves into the origins and development of the Russian piano concerto, comparing and contrasting the concertos of Anton Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky, Balakirev, Mussorgsky, and Taneyev, among others, with those of their European progenitors. Among the elements that gave the Russian piano concerto genre its particularly unique and colorful flavor was the introduction of materials extracted from Slavic folk songs and orthodox chant of the Slavic race (Rimsky-Korsakov and Balakirev in particular). The author includes copious musical examples and charts, including one that delineates the importance and pedagogical influence of Irish pianist and composer John Field (who lived in Russian from 1803 to 1837) on Russian musicians and composers. David Griffioen's discography is invaluable for those interested in comparing renditions and tracing performance history.