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Charles Amirkhanian provides a brief background sketch of the life and music of Nikolai Miaskovsky (1881-1950), who composed during both Tsarist and Stalinist Russia. A recording of the composer's ìCello Sonata No. 2 in A minorî, Op. 81 is heard. This is followed by what may be some of the most hilarious, but informative, moments in musicology ever broadcast. After Amirkhanian reads the section in the recently published ìBaker's Biographical Dictionary of Musiciansî (6th Edition) written by Nicolas Slonimsky on himself (a very funny exercise in hyper-humility), the microphone is turned over to Slonimsky at his home in Los Angeles, and what follows provides an indication of the extent of his wit and genius. Amirkhanian then reads selected passages from the Dictionary and the program concludes with music, first a selection from Sergei Slonimsky's ìIcarosî (1971), a ballet with chorus (Sergei is the nephew of Nicolas) and then a group of Preludes by Scriabin played by Vladimir Sofronitsky

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