Oy, to ne vecher
Encyclopedia
Oy, to ne vecher is the incipit
of a Russian folk song, also known as "The Cossack's Parable" or as "Stepan Razin's Dream" .
It was first published by composer Alexandra Zheleznova-Armfelt
(1870–1933) in her collection Songs of the Ural Cossacks after her fieldwork in the Ural District during 1896–1897.
The original title was (in pre-1917 orthography
) The lyrics were reportedly recorded by "75-year-old Cossack F. S. Zh.".
The original lyrics were in seven verses, with verse six making explicit that the dreamer is 17th century rebel Stepan Razin. Razin has a dream, and his captian (esaul) interprets it as an omen of their defeat.
The song has been performed in several variants, sometimes expanded to up to eleven verses, but in the most common variant as sung by modern interpreters, it is reduced to four verses, removing the mention of Razin, and reducing the three omens in the dream to a single one. These lyrics may be translated as:
The song became very popular during the 20th century and has been performed by numerous interpreters since the 1970s,
including Ariel
in the rock-opera "The Legend of Yemelyan Pugachev
" (1978), Zhanna Bichevskaya
(1996), Arkona
(2004
), Zolotoye Koltso and Valery Kipelov
(2011).
A 2006 interpretation by Andrey Zheleznyakov became known internationally as the entrance theme used by mixed martial arts fighter Fedor Emilianenko.
Incipit
Incipit is a Latin word meaning "it begins". The incipit of a text, such as a poem, song, or book, is the first few words of its opening line. In music, it can also refer to the opening notes of a composition. Before the development of titles, texts were often referred to by their incipits...
of a Russian folk song, also known as "The Cossack's Parable" or as "Stepan Razin's Dream" .
It was first published by composer Alexandra Zheleznova-Armfelt
Alexandra Zheleznova-Armfelt
Alexandra Zheleznova-Armfelt was a Swedish-Russian composer.Born Alexandra Armfelt into a Swedish noble family, grand-daughter of baron Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, she received a broad education as a child and started to compose at an early age...
(1870–1933) in her collection Songs of the Ural Cossacks after her fieldwork in the Ural District during 1896–1897.
The original title was (in pre-1917 orthography
Reforms of Russian orthography
The reform of Russian orthography refers to changes made to the Russian alphabet over the course of the history of the Russian language.- Early Changes :...
) The lyrics were reportedly recorded by "75-year-old Cossack F. S. Zh.".
The original lyrics were in seven verses, with verse six making explicit that the dreamer is 17th century rebel Stepan Razin. Razin has a dream, and his captian (esaul) interprets it as an omen of their defeat.
- Ah, it is not yet evening, but I have taken an tiny little nap, and a dream came to me;
- In the dream that came to me, it was as if my raven-black horse was playing about, dancing about, beneath the bold, brave youth.
- Ah, and there wild winds came flying out of the east, and they ripped the black cap from that wild head of mine.
- Ah, the sounding bow was ripped off the mighty shoulder, ah, the tempered arrows were scattered on damp mother earth,
- Ah, who will be there for me, that he would interpret this dream? Ah, the esaul was a clever one, the esaul unravelled all of that dream:
- "Stepan, our dear, Timofeyevich, you whom they call Razin, off of your head fell the black cap: off will come that wild head of yours.
- "Ripped away, alas, was the sounding bow: for me, the esaul, there will be a hanging. Ah, scattered were the tempered arrows: our Cossacks, alas, they will all turn to flight."
The song has been performed in several variants, sometimes expanded to up to eleven verses, but in the most common variant as sung by modern interpreters, it is reduced to four verses, removing the mention of Razin, and reducing the three omens in the dream to a single one. These lyrics may be translated as:
- Ah, it is not yet evening, but I have taken an tiny little nap, and a dream came to me;
- In the dream that came to me, it was as if my raven-black horse was playing about, dancing about, was being frisky beneath me;
- Ah, and there evil winds came flying out of the east, and they ripped the black cap from that wild head of mine.
- And the esaul was a clever one, he was able to interpret my dream. "Ah, it will surely come off", he said, "that wild head of yours".
The song became very popular during the 20th century and has been performed by numerous interpreters since the 1970s,
including Ariel
Ariel (Russian band)
Ariel are a "VIA" band based in Chelyabinsk, Russia.They were formed in 1970 and headed by Valery Yarushin. From 1989 to the present day, they have been headed by Rostislav Gepp. The group emerged from a fusion of two earlier ensembles, called Ariel and Allegro...
in the rock-opera "The Legend of Yemelyan Pugachev
Yemelyan Pugachev
Yemelyan Ivanovich Pugachov , was a pretender to the Russian throne who led a great Cossack insurrection during the reign of Catherine II...
" (1978), Zhanna Bichevskaya
Zhanna Bichevskaya
Zhanna Vladimirovna Bichevskaya , is a prominent Soviet and Russian bard and folk musician.She was born in Moscow and in 1971 she graduated from the Moscow Circus and Performing Arts School...
(1996), Arkona
Arkona (band)
Arkona is a Russian pagan metal band. Their lyrics are heavily influenced by Russian folklore and Slavic mythology, and their music incorporates several traditional Russian musical instruments...
(2004
Lepta
Lepta is the second full-length album by the Russian folk metal band Arkona. It was released on December 30, 2004 through Sound Age Production.-Track listing:# "Sotkany Veka" – 4:14# "Lepta O Gneve" – 5:26...
), Zolotoye Koltso and Valery Kipelov
Valery Kipelov
Valery Alexandrovich Kipelov Valery Alexandrovich Kipelov Valery Alexandrovich Kipelov (Валерий Александрович Кипелов (born July 12, 1958), is a Russian music artist and composer, who was the vocalist of heavy metal band Aria. Since 2002, Valery leads his own heavy metal band Kipelov.-Early...
(2011).
A 2006 interpretation by Andrey Zheleznyakov became known internationally as the entrance theme used by mixed martial arts fighter Fedor Emilianenko.