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Creative Capitals Disc 7 (2018)

Built in 1703 by Peter the Great to be a cosmopolitan, Western–style metropolis, St. Petersburg emerged over subsequent decades as the center of Russian musical culture. It was in St. Petersburg that Mikhail Glinka, the progenitor of Russia’s classical music tradition, built his career and that Anton Rubinstein founded the city’s storied conservatory, which produced such towering artists as Dmitry Shostakovich. A little over one thousand miles away, two other luminary composers made Leipzig their home: Felix Mendelssohn, who served as Director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and founded the Leipzig Conservatory, and Robert Schumann, whose mighty Piano Quintet concludes the disc. This disc brings together the Creative Capitals of St. Petersburg and Leipzig through dramatically varied music by these four influential composers. Read the LIVE 2018 Disc 7 notes.

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Selections

Andante and Variations in B-flat Major for Piano, Four Hands, op. 83a | Felix Mendelssohn (12:07)

Michael Brown, Piano
Hyeyeon Park, Piano

From Jewish Folk Poetry, op. 79 | Dmitry Shostakovich (24:03)

Original Yiddish texts selected from the collection Jewish Folk Songs (1947), compiled by I. Dobrushin and A. Yuditsky, edited by Y. M. Sokolov
English translation by Danielle Sinclair

Plach ob umershem mladence
Solntse i dozhdik,
Sijanje i mgla.
Tuman opustilsja,
Pomerkla luna.

Kogo rodila ona?
Malchika, malchika.
A kak nazvali?
Mojshele, Mojshele.
A v chjom kachali Mojshele?
V ljulke.
A chem kormili?
Khlebom da lukom.
A gde skhoronili?
V mogile.
Oj, mal’chik v mogile, v mogile!
Mojshele, v mogile, oj!

Russian translation by Tatyana Aleksandrovna Spendiarova

Lament for a Dead Child
Sun and rain,
light and haze.
Fog has descended,
the moon has dimmed.

What did she bear?
A boy, a boy.
What did they name him?
Moishele, Moishele.
Where did they rock Moishele?
In the cradle.
What did they feed him?
Bread and onions.
And where they did bury him?
In the grave.
Oh, the boy is in the grave, in the grave!
Moishele, in the grave!

Zabotlivyje mama i tjotja
Baj, baj, baj,
V selo, tatunja, pojezzhaj!
Privezi nam jablochko,
Chtob ne bolet glazochkam!
Baj.

Baj, baj, baj,
V selo, tatunja, pojezzhaj!
Privezi nam kurochku,
Chtob ne bolet’ zubochkam!
Baj.

Baj, baj, baj,
V selo, tatunja, pojezzhaj!
Privezi nam utochku,
Chtob ne bolet grudochke!
Baj.

Baj, baj, baj,
V selo, tatunja, pojezzhaj!
Privezi nam gusochku,
Chtob ne bolet’ puzochku!
Baj.

Baj, baj, baj,
V selo, tatunja, pojezzhaj!
Privezi nam semechek,
Chtob ne bolet temechku!
Baj.

Baj, baj, baj,
V selo, tatunja, pojezzhaj!
Privezi nam zajchika,
Chtob ne bolet palchikam!
Baj.

Russian translation by Andrey Pavlovich Globa

Thoughtful Mother and Aunt
Bye, bye, lullabye,
into the village, papa, go!
Bring us back some apples,
so that our eyes won’t ache!
Bye.

Bye, bye, lullabye,
into the village, papa, go!
Bring us back a chicken,
so that our teeth won’t ache!
Bye.

Bye, bye, lullabye,
into the village, papa, go!
Bring us back a duck,
so that our chests won’t ache!
Bye.

Bye, bye, lullabye,
into the village, papa, go!
Bring us back a goose,
so that our bellies won’t ache!
Bye.

Bye, bye, lullabye,
into the village, papa, go!
Bring us back some seeds,
so that our heads won?t ache!
Bye.

Bye, bye, lullabye,
into the village, papa, go!
Bring us back a little rabbit,
so that our fingers won?t ache!
Bye.

Kolybelnaja
Moj synok vsekh krashe v mire—
Ogonjok vo tme.
Tvoj otets v tsepjakh v Sibiri,
Derzhit car jego v tjurme!
Spi, lju-lju, lju-lju!

Kolybel tvoju kachaja,
Mama sljozy ljot.
Sam pojmjosh ty podrastaja,
Chto jej serdce zhzhjot.

Tvoj otec v Sibiri dalnej,
Ja nuzhdu terplju.
Spi pokuda bespechalno, a,
Lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju!

Skorb moja cherneje nochi,
Spi, a ja ne splju.
Spi, khoroshij, spi, synochek, spi,
Lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju.

Russian translation by V. Zvyagintseva

Cradle Song
My son, most beautiful on earth,
my flame in the darkness.
Your father is in chains in Siberia,
held prisoner by the tsar!
Sleep, lulla lullabye!

While rocking your cradle,
your mother weeps.
When you are grown,
you will understand the anguish in her heart.

Your father is in far Siberia,
how I suffer.
Sleep now without cares,
and lulla lullabye!

My grief is blacker than the night.
Sleep now, though I cannot.
Sleep, my precious, sleep, my son, sleep,
lulla lullabye.

Pered dolgoj razlukoj
Soprano:
Oj, Abram, kak bez tebja mne zhit!
Ja bez tebja, ty bez menja—
Kak nam v razluke zhit?

Tenor:
A pomnish, v vorotakh so mnoj stojala—
Chto po sekretu ty mne skazala?
Oj, oj, Rivochka, daj tvoj rotik, devochka!

Soprano:
Oj, Abram, kak mne zhit teper’?
Ja bez tebja, ty bez menja,
Oj, kak bez ruchki dver!

Tenor:
A pomnish, guljali s toboj my v pare,
Chto mne skazala ty na bulvare?
Oj, oj, Rivochka, daj tvoj rotik, devochka!

Soprano:
Oj, Abram, kak mne zhit teper?
Ja bez tebja, ty bez menja,
Kak nam bez schast’ja zhit’?

Tenor:
Oj, Rivochka, kak bez tebja mne zhit!
Ja bez tebja, ty bez menja,
Kak nam bez schast’ja zhit’?

Soprano:
Ty pomnish, ja krasnuju jubku nosila?
Oj, kak togda ja byla krasiva!
Oj, Abram! Oj, Abram!

Tenor:
Oj, oj, Rivochka, daj tvoj rotik, devochka!

Russian translation by Andrey Pavlovich Globa

Before a Long Separation
Soprano:
Oh, Abraham, how can I live without you!
I without you, you without me—
how could we ever live apart?

Tenor:
But do you remember when you stood with me at the gate,
the secret you told me?
Oh, oh, Rivochka, give me a kiss, girl!

Soprano:
Oh, Abraham, how can I live now?
I without you, you without me,
like a door without a knob!

Tenor:
But do you remember when we went walking together,
what you did say to me on the avenue?
Oh, oh, Rivochka, give me a kiss, girl!

Soprano:
Oh, Abraham, how can I live now?
I without you, you without me,
how can we live without happiness?

Tenor:
Oh, Rivochka, how can I live without you!
I without you, you without me,
how can we live without happiness?

Soprano:
Do you remember the red skirt I wore?
Oh, how beautiful I was then!
Oh, Abraham! Oh, Abraham!

Tenor:
Oh, oh, Rivochka, give me a kiss, girl!

Predosterezhenije
Slushaj, Khasja!
Nelzja guljat,
Ne smej guljat,
S ljubym guljat,
Opasajsja, opasajsja!

Pojdjosh guljat,
Do utra guljat, oj,
Potom naplacheshsja,
Khasja! Slushaj! Khasja!

Russian translation by Nikolay Nikolayevich Ushakov

Warning
Listen, Xasia!
You cannot go for a walk,
do not dare to go for a walk,
if you go walking with anyone,
beware, beware!

If you should go for a walk,
and you walk until morning,
oh, then you will be crying,
Xasia! Listen! Xasia!

Broshennyj otec
Alto:
Ele-starevshchik, nadel khalat.
K pristavu dochka ushla, govorjat.

Tenor:
Tsirele, dochka, vernis k otsu,
Dam tebe platjev narjadnykh k ventsu.
Tsirele, dochka,
Sergi i koltsa kuplju tebe sam.
Tsirele, dochka,
I na pridachu krasavchika dam.
Tsirele e, dochka!

Alto:
Ne nado mne narjadov,
Ne nado mne kolets,
Lish s gospodinom pristavom
Pojdu ja pod venets.
Gospodin pristav,
Poshu vas, skoreje
Gonite v sheju
Starogo jevreja.

Tenor:
Tsirele, dochka! Vernis k otsu!
Tsirele, dochka! Vernis k otsu!
Vernisko otsu, vernis k otsu...
Tsirele, dochka!

Russian translation by S. Mar

The Deserted Father
Alto:
The old junk-dealer put on his bathrobe.
They say his daughter has left him for a policeman.

Tenor:
Tsirele, daughter, come back to your father,
I will give you a beautiful gown for your wedding.
Tsirele, daughter,
I will buy you earrings and rings.
Tsirele, daughter,
and I will give you a fine man.
Tsirele, daughter!

Alto:
I do not care for finery,
nor for rings.
I only wish to marry
my policeman.
Mr. Policeman,
quickly chase
this old Jew away.

Tenor:
Tsirele, daughter! Come back to your father!
Tsirele, daughter! Come back to your father!
Come back to your father! Come back to your father!
Tsirele, daughter!

Pesnja o nuzhde
Krysha spit na cherdake
Pod solomoj sladkim snom.
V kolybelke spit ditja
Bez peljonok, nagishom.

Gop, gop, vyshe!
Jest koza solomu s kryshi.
Gop, gop, vyshe!
Jest koza solomu s kryshi, oj!

Kolybel na cherdake,
Pauchok v nej tkjot bedu.
Radost moju sosjot,
Mne ostaviv lish nuzhdu.

Gop, gop, vyshe!...

Petushok na cherdake,
Jarko-krasnyj grebeshok.
Oj, zhena zajmi dlja detok
Khleba cherstvogo kusok.

Gop, gop, vyshe!...

Russian translation by B. Semyonov, adapted from text in Yiddish by B. Shafir

Song of Need
The roof will sweetly sleep
in the garret beneath the straw.
In the tiny cradle the child will sleep
without covers, stark naked.

Hop, hop, even higher!
A goat eats the straw from the roof.
Hop, hop, even higher!
A goat eats the straw from the roof, oh!

The cradle in the garret,
a spider weaves its misfortune.
Happiness has deserted me,
leaving only need.

Hop, hop, even higher!...

The rooster is in the garret,
with a bright red comb.
Oh wife, borrow some crusts of bread
for the children.

Hop, hop, even higher!...

Zima
Lezhit moja Shejndl v krovati,
I s neju rebjonok bolnoj.
Ni shchepki v netoplenoj khate,
A veter gudit za stenoj.
Ah...

Vernulis i stuzha, i veter,
Net sily terpet i molchat.
Krichite zhe, plachte zhe, deti,
Zima vorotilas opjat’.
Ah...

Russian translation by B. Semyonov

Winter
My Sheyndl lies in bed,
the sick child with her.
Not a stick in the frozen hut,
and the wind howls outside the walls.
Ah...

Both the cold and wind have returned,
there is no strength to suffer in silence.
So shout and weep, children,
winter has come again.
Ah...

Khoroshaja zhizn
O pole prostornom, druzja dorogije,
Pesen ne pel ja v gody glukhije.
Ne dlja menja polja rascvetali,
Ne dlja menja rosinki stekali.

V tesnom podvale vo tme syroj
Zhil ja kogda-to, izmuchen nuzhdoj.
I grustnaja pesnja neslas iz podvala
O gore, o muke mojej nebyvaloj.

Kolkhoznaja rechka, strujis veseleje;
Druzjam peredaj moj poklon poskoreje.
Skazhi, chto v kolkhoze teper moj dom,
Tsvetushcheje derevo stojit pod oknom.

Teper dlja menja polja rascvetajut,
Menja molokom i mjodom pitajut.
Ja schastliv, a ty rasskazhi mojim bratjam:
Kolkhoznym poljam budu pesni slagat ja!

Russian translation by Seymon Olender

The Good Life
Wide-open fields, dearest friends—
I never sang of them in years past.
The fields never bloomed for me,
nor did the dewdrops fall.

In a close basement, dark and damp,
I lived once and was tormented by need.
And sad songs rose from the basement to the mountain,
about my grief and suffering.

Community river, flow merrily;
swiftly send greetings to my friends.
Say that I now live on the communal farm,
and a blooming tree stands beneath my window.

Now fields bloom for me,
and I feast on milk and honey.
I am happy, and you can tell my brothers:
I will write songs to the farm fields!

Pesnja devushki
Na luzhajke, vozle lesa,
Chto zadumchiv tak vsegda,
My pasjom s utra do nochi,
Kolkhoznyje stada.
I sizhu ja na prigorke,
S dudochkoj sizhu svojej.
Ne mogu ja nagljadetsja
Na krasu strany mojej.

V jarkoj zeleni derevja
I krasivy, i strojny.
A v poljakh cvetut kolosja,
Prelesti polny.

Oj, oj, lju-lju!

To mne vetka ulybnjotsja
Kolosok vdrug podmignjot,
Chuvstvo radosti velikoj
V serdtse iskroju sverknjot.

Poj zhe, dudochka prostaja!
Tak legko nam pet vdvojom!
Slyshat gory i doliny,
Kak my radostno pojom!

Tolko, dudochka ne plakat!
Proshluju zabud pechal.
I puskaj tvoji napevy
Mchatsja v laskovuju dal.

Oj, oj, lju-lju!

Ja v svojom kolkhoze schastliva.
Slyshish, zhizn moja polna!
Veseleje, veseleje, dudochka,
Ty pet dolzhna!

Russian translation by Seymon Olender

Song of the Girl
In a field, near the ever-pensive forest,
we keep watch
over the farm flocks
from morning to night.
And I sit on the hillock,
sit with my little flute.
My eyes never grow weary
of gazing on this beautiful country.

The trees are clad in brilliant green,
beautiful and ordered.
In the fields the grains ripen,
such rich bounty.

Oh, oh, lulla lullabye!

Sometimes a branch will smile at me,
give me a wink,
and a feeling of happiness
will light in my heart.

So sing, little flute!
It is so easy for us to sing together!
Mountains and valleys
hear our joyful song!

Only, my flute, do not weep!
Forget the grief of the past.
And let your melodies
flow off into the distance.

Oh, oh, lulla lullabye!

I am happy on the farm.
You hear, my life is complete!
Merrier, much merrier, little flute.
You must sing!

Schastje
Ja muzha smelo pod ruku vzjala,
Pust’ ja stara, i star moj kavaler.
Jego s soboj v teatr povela,
I vzjali dva bileta my v parter.

Do pozdnej nochi s muzhem sidja tam,
Vsjo predavalis radostnym mechtam,
Kakimi blagami okruzhena
Jevrejskogo sapozhnika zhena.

I vsej strane khochu povedat ja,
Pro radostnyj i svetlyj zhrebij moj:
Vrachami, nashi stali synovja—
Zvezda gorit nad nashej golovoj!

Russian translation by Lev Dligach

Happiness
I boldly took my husband by the hand,
who cares that I am old, or that he’s an old man.
I took him to the theater,
and we bought two tickets in the parterre.

Sitting there with my husband
as the night grew late,
all happily thought of what goods surrounded
the Jewish shoemaker’s wife.

And I want to tell the entire country
about my good fortune:
Our sons are doctors—
a star shines above our heads!