Solovey
Nightingale, Соловей
The music of this beautiful, probably the most famous Russian romance, was composed in the period 1825-1826, by the Russian composer, pianist and conductor Alexander Alyabyev (1787-1851) to the words of a verse, written by Anton Delvig (1798-1831), a Russian poet and editor. He was among the first poets, who started to compose Russian songs. He is said to introduce the phrase "Russian song" in the language of the literature.
The text narrates about the feelings of a young lass, who loves her boyfriend. She feels alone and left by her lover. Some folk superstitious beliefs are included, indirectly sharpening the reader`s impression. That shows a specific artistic talent of Delvig, his knowledge of the Russian folk customs. The romance was performed for the first time on January 7th, 1827, in the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow, by the famous singer Peter A. Bulakhov (1793-1837). |
The poem itself was published only two years later, in the collection "The Poems by Baron Delvig", Saint-Petersburg, 1829, under the title "Russian Song". As the lyrics of the romance draw a picture of a deep sorrow and despair, and as it seems to be not only about a disappointment in love, the Russian musicologist, critic and translator, Alexander Maikapar, believes that Delvig wrote the poem already in 1820, at the moment when his friend A. Pushkin, a great Russian poet and writer, was sent into exile.
Alyabyev composed the music for "Solovey" while being imprisoned himself. On February 24th, 1825, he was arrested on false charges of murder. During a card game, arranged at a dinner party at his home, Alyabyev hit a retired colonel and landowner T. M. Vremev, accusing him of the cardsharping. Only a few days later the colonel, who had been seriously ill for a long time, suddenly died of a ruptured spleen. Alyabyev was accused of murder and sent to a prison. He suffered from rheumatism there and started to go blind. His elder sister managed to assure the placement of the piano directly into his camera and that help saved the composer. Three years later he was sent into exile to the town of Tobolsk in Siberia, with the deprivation of all rights and the title of nobility, and his elder sister followed him voluntary. The main reason for that severe punishment was most likely Alyabyev's proximity to the Decembrist circles.
Seen through this historical perspective, it is quite understandable that Alyabyev chose Delvig's poem "Nightingale" for writing the music to, as the nightingale was seen as a symbol for the invisible connection of people, separated from each other by force. It is often claimed that he dedicated the song to the woman with whom he had fallen in love, Catherine Rimsky-Korsakov (1803-1854), with whom he would marry in 1840. Yet, the fact could not be established precisely.
Seen through this historical perspective, it is quite understandable that Alyabyev chose Delvig's poem "Nightingale" for writing the music to, as the nightingale was seen as a symbol for the invisible connection of people, separated from each other by force. It is often claimed that he dedicated the song to the woman with whom he had fallen in love, Catherine Rimsky-Korsakov (1803-1854), with whom he would marry in 1840. Yet, the fact could not be established precisely.
The first performance of "The Nightingale", in the Moscow Bolshoi Theater, turned out to be a big success. The composer A. Verstovsky, Alyabyev`s good friend, attended the premiere and told that "Even the prison is of benefit to the Russian talent!" Alyabyev`s replying words were: "Tell him, there are many empty cameras next to me!" Soon after the romance became very popular. It appeared in the repertoire of many, even non-Russian singers: Praskovja Barteneva, Adelina Patti, the German songstress Henrietta Sonntag, who was called "The Nightingale" herself for her coloratura soprano, and in the years 1840-1850 the romance was included in all Polina Viardo's programs. Polina used the song also as a stage singing lesson in "The Barber of Seville", which caused a storm of applause.
Even P. Tchaikovsky, probably the most known Russian composer, did not remain indifferent to the romance. He declared that the music is sometimes something completely intangible, and not amenable to critical analysis. He wrote, he could not listen to the romance without having tears in his eyes, though some music critics claimed there was nothing special in the song. Mikhail Glinka, a famous Russian composer, while being in Berlin in 1833, wrote variations on the tune, that were published in Saint-Petersburg. In 1856 he also wrote an arrangement for voice and orchestra, for the performance of the songstress Valentina Bianchi. |
Evgenya Myroshnichenko performs "Solovey"
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Other composers also wrote transcriptions to the romance: A. Gurilov, Franz Liszt for the piano, V. Visotskiy for the guitar, A. Vivien and the well-known Belgian composer, Henri Vieuxtemps, for the violin. The classic singing arrangement belongs to H. Sonntag, and the romance is now a virtuoso piece for the beginning songstresses, showing their high level of performance.
Since its creation, "The Nightingale" has not left the scene. It was played for the radio and television, it was recorded and performed by many singers, such as: Valeriya Barsova , Natalia Gerasimova , Nadezhda Kazantseva , Galina Kovaleva , Evgenya Miroshnichenko , Mikhail Mikhailov, Antonina Nezhdanov , Deborah Pantofel-Nechetskaya , Boris Christov , Ivan Rebroff , Alla Solenkova , Lamara Chkonia, "The Singing Guitars" ensemble, and a lot of others.
The romance has also become an accordion piece, represented in several arrangements, including variations.
SCORE FOR ACCORDION (WITH VARIATIONS) SIMPLE SCORE SCORE FOR ACCORDION (F. LIST TRANSCRIPTION)
Since its creation, "The Nightingale" has not left the scene. It was played for the radio and television, it was recorded and performed by many singers, such as: Valeriya Barsova , Natalia Gerasimova , Nadezhda Kazantseva , Galina Kovaleva , Evgenya Miroshnichenko , Mikhail Mikhailov, Antonina Nezhdanov , Deborah Pantofel-Nechetskaya , Boris Christov , Ivan Rebroff , Alla Solenkova , Lamara Chkonia, "The Singing Guitars" ensemble, and a lot of others.
The romance has also become an accordion piece, represented in several arrangements, including variations.
SCORE FOR ACCORDION (WITH VARIATIONS) SIMPLE SCORE SCORE FOR ACCORDION (F. LIST TRANSCRIPTION)
Russian text
Соловей мой, соловей, Голосистый соловей! Ты куда, куда летишь, Где всю ночку пропоешь? Соловей мой, соловей, Голосистый соловей! Кто-то бедная, как я, Ночь прослушает тебя, Не смыкаючи очей, Утопаючи в слезах? Соловей мой, соловей, Голосистый соловей! Ты лети, мой соловей, Хоть за тридевять земель, Хоть за синие моря, На чужие берега; Соловей мой, соловей, Голосистый соловей! Побывай во всех странах, В деревнях и в городах: Не найти тебе нигде Горемышнее меня. Соловей мой, соловей, Голосистый соловей! У меня ли у младой Дорог жемчуг на груди, У меня ли у младой Жар-колечко на руке, Соловей мой, соловей, Голосистый соловей! У меня ли у младой В сердце миленький дружок. В день осенний на груди Крупный жемчуг потускнел, Соловей мой, соловей, Голосистый соловей! В зимню ночку на руке Распаялося кольцо, А как нынешней весной Разлюбил меня милой. Соловей мой, соловей, Голосистый соловей! |
Transliteration
Solovey moy, solovey, Golosistyy solovey! Ty kuda, kuda letish', Gde vsyu nochku propoyesh'? Solovey moy, solovey, Golosistyy solovey! Kto-to bednaya, kak ya, Noch' proslushayet tebya, Ne smykayuchi ochey, Utopayuchi v slezakh? Solovey moy, solovey, Golosistyy solovey! Ty leti, moy solovey, Khot' za tridevyat' zemel', Khot' za siniye morya, Na chuzhiye berega; Solovey moy, solovey, Golosistyy solovey! Pobyvay vo vsekh stranakh, V derevnyakh i v gorodakh: Ne nayti tebe nigde Goremyshneye menya. Solovey moy, solovey, Golosistyy solovey! U menya li u mladoy Dorog zhemchug na grudi, U menya li u mladoy Zhar-kolechko na ruke, Solovey moy, solovey, Golosistyy solovey! U menya li u mladoy V serdtse milen'kiy druzhok. V den' osenniy na grudi Krupnyy zhemchug potusknel, Solovey moy, solovey, Golosistyy solovey! V zimnyu nochku na ruke Raspayalosya kol'tso, A kak nyneshney vesnoy Razlyubil menya miloy. Solovey moy, solovey, Golosistyy solovey! |
English Text
Nightingale, my nightingale, A nice rich-voiced nightingale! Where do you guide your flight? Where will you sing all night? Nightingale, my nightingale, A nice rich-voiced nightingale! Who`s a poor girl like me, All night listening to thee, Does not close her tired eyes, Drowned in her tears, cries? Nightingale, my nightingale, A nice rich-voiced nightingale! Then you fly, my nightingale, Even very far away, Even over the blue seas, Reach the far alien skies; Nightingale, my nightingale, A nice rich-voiced nightingale! Visit all the countries hence, Cities, villages and dens, Nowhere you can find A more hapless heart than mine. Nightingale, my nightingale, A nice rich-voiced nightingale! I am a young one, on my chest The expensive pearls lay best, I am a young one, and I band With a fire-ring my hand, Nightingale, my nightingale, A nice rich-voiced nightingale! I am a young one, in my heart My beloved guy has a part. On my chest, one autumn day, The large pearls did fade away, Nightingale, my nightingale, A nice rich-voiced nightingale! On my hand, one winter night, The ring broke, I took fright, When the spring came to the lea, My sweetheart stopped loving me. Nightingale, my nightingale, A nice rich-voiced nightingale! Translated by Accordeonworld.weebly.com |
Sources:
http://www.stihi.ru/2014/06/02/6956 ; https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Соловей_(романс) ; http://aliabiev.psn.ru/biography.html ;
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Алябьев,_Александр_Александрович ; http://cyclowiki.org/wiki/Соловей_(романс) ;
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/komrik/post398409407/
http://www.stihi.ru/2014/06/02/6956 ; https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Соловей_(романс) ; http://aliabiev.psn.ru/biography.html ;
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Алябьев,_Александр_Александрович ; http://cyclowiki.org/wiki/Соловей_(романс) ;
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/komrik/post398409407/