Legenda O Dvenadtsati Razboynikakh
The Legend Of The Twelve Robbers, Легенда о двенадцати разбойниках
The lyrics for this popular Russian folk song were taken from the tale "On The Two Great Sinners", from the fourth part of the unfinished poem "Who Lives Well In Russia" (1863-1876), by the Russian poet, writer, critic and publisher Nikolai Nekrasov (1821-1878). The music was written by the Russian composer Nikolai Manykin-Nevstruev (1869-?)
Nekrasov's poem was based on the folk legends about Ataman Kudeyar, that were known and written down in many southern and central provinces of Russia, from Smolensk to Saratov. According to most historians, the name Kudeyar (Куде́яр) is of Tatar origin, as the Persian name Xudāyār (Худа́яр) did mean "Beloved of God". Other historians do disagree, and indicate that the name Kudeyar was quite common in Western and Central Russia, and meant "The Strongest of Wizards". |
The most famous legend on Kudeyar tells that he was the son of Vasily III, the Grand Duke of Moscow, and his first wife, Solomonia, being born after she was sent on exile to a monastery for barrenness. This would mean that he was the older brother of Ivan IV Grozny, or Ivan the Terrible, and his real name was said to be Prince George Vasilievich.
According to another legend, Kudeyar was the son of Sigismund Bathory, the prince of Transylvania. After a quarrel with his father, he fled to the Cossacks of the Dnieper, whereafter he went in service of the tsar Ivan Grozny, where he served among the guardsmen of the tsar. His real name in that case was Prince George Gabor.
None of the too many legends, however, can tell us what Kudeyar's origin really was. It is only known that he became the chief of a robber's gang, with which he robbed the rich convoys. At the end of his life Kudeyar repented and returned to Christianity, according to some sources, living as a hermit in the forests, where he arranged a church in his cave.
According to another legend, Kudeyar was the son of Sigismund Bathory, the prince of Transylvania. After a quarrel with his father, he fled to the Cossacks of the Dnieper, whereafter he went in service of the tsar Ivan Grozny, where he served among the guardsmen of the tsar. His real name in that case was Prince George Gabor.
None of the too many legends, however, can tell us what Kudeyar's origin really was. It is only known that he became the chief of a robber's gang, with which he robbed the rich convoys. At the end of his life Kudeyar repented and returned to Christianity, according to some sources, living as a hermit in the forests, where he arranged a church in his cave.
Nekrasov made a short and capacious parable from the folk legends. The moral, he expresses, is a quite revolutionary one, consonant with the political mentality of the many educated and not noble Russian people of that time: the best matter is to liberate the Russian peasantry from the social oppression. The censorship prevented the publication till 1881. The first illegal publication of the poem took place in 1879.
The composer, Nikolai Manykin-Nevstruev, used to be a Moscow musical and theater activist. He worked in the Moscow Conservatory and the Russian Music Society, worked as conductor for Stanislavskiy and Nemirovich-Danchenko, worked in other theaters. He wrote music and verses for he theater performances, composed music to many romances by the famous Russian poets, such as A. Pushkin, M. Lermontov, K. Balmont, A. Beliy and others. His compositions were performed by the famous Russian bass singer F. Shaliapin. Some of his works are commonly thought to be folk by their origin.
The composer, Nikolai Manykin-Nevstruev, used to be a Moscow musical and theater activist. He worked in the Moscow Conservatory and the Russian Music Society, worked as conductor for Stanislavskiy and Nemirovich-Danchenko, worked in other theaters. He wrote music and verses for he theater performances, composed music to many romances by the famous Russian poets, such as A. Pushkin, M. Lermontov, K. Balmont, A. Beliy and others. His compositions were performed by the famous Russian bass singer F. Shaliapin. Some of his works are commonly thought to be folk by their origin.
The song is often performed by choirs, including the church ones, as the theme of a penitent robber is universal and time-independent. That has made the song popular and widely performed not only in Russia, but in other countries also. The known performers of the song are: Feodor Shaliapin , Ivan Rebroff , Eugeny Dyatlov, Iosif Kobzon , Zhanna Bichevskaya , Vladiyar , Alexandrov Red Army Choir , Ein Kärntner Choir, Vrijthof Maastricht with Andrei Rieu, Don Cossacks Choir, Männerchor Emmering, Carinthia-Chor Millstatt THE SCORE |
Male Chorus "Optina Pustyn" performs "The Legend"
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Russian text
Припев: Господу Богу помолимся, Древнюю быль возвестим. Как в Соловках нам рассказывал Инок честной Питирим. Было двенадцать разбойников, Был Кудеяр атаман. Много разбойники пролили Крови честных христиан. Много богатства награбили, Жили в дремучем лесу. Сам Кудеяр из-под Киева Выкрал девицу-красу. Днём с полюбовницей тешился, Ночью набеги творил. Вдруг у разбойника лютого Совесть Господь пробудил. Бросил своих он товарищей, Бросил набеги творить. Сам Кудеяр в монастырь пошёл Богу и людям служить. |
Transliteration
Pripev Gospodu Bogu pomolimsya Drevnyuyu byl vozvestim Kak v Solovkah nam rasskazyval Inok chestnoj Pitirim Bylo dvenadcat razbojnikov Byl Kudeyar ataman Mnogo razbojniki prolili Krovi chestnyh hristian Mnogo bogatstva nagrabili ZHili v dremuchem lesu Sam Kudeyar iz-pod Kieva Vykral devicu-krasu Dnyom s polyubovnicej teshilsya Nochyu nabegi tvoril Vdrug u razbojnika lyutogo Sovest Gospod probudil Brosil svoih on tovarishchej Brosil nabegi tvorit Sam Kudeyar v monastyr poshyol Bogu i lyudyam sluzhit |
English text
Refrain: Let us pray to the God, our Lord, The ancient event we'll proclaim, The way it was told on the Solovkies By honorable monk Pitirim. The were twelve robbers on the roads with Kudeyar at the head. They spilled the blood of the Christians For so many nights, many days. They robbed and took so much wealth Living in the very dense forest. And Kudeyar himself once stole From near Kiev a beautiful girl. He lied with the girl in the day While making the raids at night. But one day the fiend was awoken By remorse sent from the Lord. Kudeyar left his band And ceased making raids. He went to the cloister to serve God and men. |
Sources:
http://a-pesni.org/popular20/bylo12.htm; https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Кудеяр;
http://cyclowiki.org/wiki//Николай_Александрович_Маныкин-Невструев; http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/frondam/post242352356/;
http://pikabu.ru/story/kudeyarova_peshchera_legendyi_3969472; http://az.lib.ru/n/nekrasow_n_a/text_0290.shtml; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSULUW3tSb0 ; http://sergeytsvetkov.livejournal.com/120589.html
http://a-pesni.org/popular20/bylo12.htm; https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Кудеяр;
http://cyclowiki.org/wiki//Николай_Александрович_Маныкин-Невструев; http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/frondam/post242352356/;
http://pikabu.ru/story/kudeyarova_peshchera_legendyi_3969472; http://az.lib.ru/n/nekrasow_n_a/text_0290.shtml; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSULUW3tSb0 ; http://sergeytsvetkov.livejournal.com/120589.html