Polyushko Pole
Encyclopedia
Polyushka Polye is a Soviet
Russia
n-language song.
Polye means "field
" in Russian, "polyushko" is a diminutive
/hypocoristic
form for "polye".
, with lyrics by Viktor Gusev
. Knipper's song was part of the symphony
with chorus
(lyrics by Gusev) "A Poem about a Komsomol
Soldier" (Поэма о бойце-комсомольце) composed in 1934. The original lyrics are sung from the perspective of a Red Army
recruit, who proudly leaves his home to keep watch against his homeland's enemies.
The song was covered many times by many artists in the Soviet Union, including a well-known rock version made from the "Singing Guitars" , released c. 1967. The song has been regularly performed and recorded by the Alexandrov Ensemble since 1928, and it is listed in the Alexandrov Ensemble discography
.
s of the tune are known under the title The Cossack Patrol, particularly a version by Ivan Rebroff
, and some under other titles including Meadowland, Cavalry of the Steppes and Gone with the Wind. Tanz Brüderchen by Hyperactive, an authorised rave
remix
of Rebroff's performance, is well-known in some online communities for its inclusion in the Flash cartoon
at rathergood.com (See links below).
Origa
, a Russian singer based in Japan, released her own version with altered lyrics in 1998.
. Michael Palin
notably performed the song with the choir of the Russian Pacific Fleet in the television series Full Circle with Michael Palin
. The song can be heard in the background of the movie Cast Away
and in an episode in Airwolf
("Proof Through The Night"); and is the opening title of Aki Kaurismäki
's film Leningrad Cowboys Go America
. The song is also covered instrumentally on Hammond organ
by Steven Stills on Jefferson Airplane
's 1969 album Volunteers
as an interlude between A Song For All Seasons and the title track.
The song is also the basis for a Glenn Miller
and Jerry Gray
song called Russian Patrol or The Red Cavalry March.
Blackmore's Night
's Gone with the Wind (1999) is an adaptation of Polyushka Polye.
The song is also the basis for a Marc Almond
song called So Long the Path (So Wide the Field) featured on his 2003 album of Russian Songs Heart On Snow. .
It is also the basis for a song by the Italian
melodic death metal
band Dark Lunacy
called Forlorn from their first official album Devoid
.
The song has also been made popular and sometimes mandatory in Swedish student contexts, after its initial introduction in the student theatre Katarina II (performed by Chalmersspexet). In such situations, it is commonly referred to as Livet or Livet är härligt. As a consequence, the pianeur of said theatre, Jan Johansson, later performs same song under the title Stepp, min stepp in the 1967 album Jazz på ryska (Jazz in Russian).
The song also featured in the game World in Conflict
.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-language song.
Polye means "field
Field (agriculture)
In agriculture, the word field refers generally to an area of land enclosed or otherwise and used for agricultural purposes such as:* Cultivating crops* Usage as a paddock or, generally, an enclosure of livestock...
" in Russian, "polyushko" is a diminutive
Diminutive
In language structure, a diminutive, or diminutive form , is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object or quality named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment...
/hypocoristic
Hypocoristic
A hypocorism is a shorter form of a word or given name, for example, when used in more intimate situations as a nickname or term of endearment.- Derivation :Hypocorisms are often generated as:...
form for "polye".
Soviet arrangements
The music was by Lev KnipperLev Knipper
Lev Konstantinovich Knipper , a Russian composer of partially German descent and an active OGPU - NKVD agent.Lev Knipper was the nephew of the actress Olga Knipper...
, with lyrics by Viktor Gusev
Viktor Gusev
Victor Mikhailovich Gusev wrote lyrics to accompany several patriotic Soviet military tunes, including Polyushko Pole....
. Knipper's song was part of the symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
with chorus
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
(lyrics by Gusev) "A Poem about a Komsomol
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
Soldier" (Поэма о бойце-комсомольце) composed in 1934. The original lyrics are sung from the perspective of a Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
recruit, who proudly leaves his home to keep watch against his homeland's enemies.
The song was covered many times by many artists in the Soviet Union, including a well-known rock version made from the "Singing Guitars" , released c. 1967. The song has been regularly performed and recorded by the Alexandrov Ensemble since 1928, and it is listed in the Alexandrov Ensemble discography
Alexandrov Ensemble discography
This is a list of recordings made by the Alexandrov Ensemble since 1928. Within each section they are in alphabetical order of record labels.- Facets: Leningrad Cowboys - Total Balalaika Show :...
.
Other arrangements
Outside Russia, several arrangementArrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
s of the tune are known under the title The Cossack Patrol, particularly a version by Ivan Rebroff
Ivan Rebroff
Ivan Rebroff was a German singer, allegedly of Russian ancestry, with an extraordinary vocal range of four and a half octaves, ranging from the soprano to impressive bass registers....
, and some under other titles including Meadowland, Cavalry of the Steppes and Gone with the Wind. Tanz Brüderchen by Hyperactive, an authorised rave
Rave music
Rave music may either refer the late 1980s genre or any genre of electronic dance music that may be played at an electronic dance party such as a rave. Very rarely, the term is used to refer to less electronic related genres glam, powerpop, psychedelic rock and dub music parties...
remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of Rebroff's performance, is well-known in some online communities for its inclusion in the Flash cartoon
Flash cartoon
A Flash animation or Flash cartoon is an animated film which is created using Adobe Flash or similar animation software and often distributed in the .swf file format. The term Flash animation not only refers to the file format but to a certain kind of movement and visual style which, in many...
at rathergood.com (See links below).
Origa
Origa
Origa is a Russian singer who works mostly in Japan....
, a Russian singer based in Japan, released her own version with altered lyrics in 1998.
Cultural influence
The tune is still popular, including ringtones. It was used to very dramatic effect in the 1967 film The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are ComingThe Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming is an American comedy film. Based on the Nathaniel Benchley novel The Off-Islanders, the film was directed by Norman Jewison and adapted for the screen by William Rose....
. Michael Palin
Michael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
notably performed the song with the choir of the Russian Pacific Fleet in the television series Full Circle with Michael Palin
Full Circle with Michael Palin
Full Circle with Michael Palin is the title of a 1997 documentary television series produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Presented by Michael Palin of Monty Python fame, Full Circle was one of a series of programmes in which Palin made unusual and interesting trips.The series...
. The song can be heard in the background of the movie Cast Away
Cast Away
Cast Away is a 2000 drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks as a FedEx employee stranded on an uninhabited island after his plane crashes in the South Pacific. The film depicts his successful attempts to survive on the island using remnants of his plane's cargo, as well as his...
and in an episode in Airwolf
Airwolf
Airwolf is an American television series that ran from 1984 until 1987. The program centers on a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they undertake various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme....
("Proof Through The Night"); and is the opening title of Aki Kaurismäki
Aki Kaurismäki
-Career:After studying Media Studies at the University of Tampere, Aki Kaurismäki started his career as a co-director in the films of his elder brother Mika Kaurismäki. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky's famous crime story set in modern-day Helsinki...
's film Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Leningrad Cowboys Go America is a 1989 road movie by Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki about the adventures of a fictional Russian rock band that travels to the United States to become famous...
. The song is also covered instrumentally on Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
by Steven Stills on Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
's 1969 album Volunteers
Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane album)
-Personnel:*Grace Slick – vocals, piano on "The Farm", "Hey Fredrick", "Eskimo Blue Day", and "Volunteers", organ on "Meadowlands", recorder on "Eskimo Blue Day"*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar*Marty Balin – vocals, percussion...
as an interlude between A Song For All Seasons and the title track.
The song is also the basis for a Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
and Jerry Gray
Jerry Gray (Arranger)
Jerry Gray was an American violinist, arranger, composer, and leader of swing dance orchestras bearing his name. He is widely known for his work with popular music during the Swing era. His name is inextricably linked to two of the most famous bandleaders of the time, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller...
song called Russian Patrol or The Red Cavalry March.
Blackmore's Night
Blackmore's Night
Blackmore's Night is an English-American traditional folk rock duo led by Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night .-Early:...
's Gone with the Wind (1999) is an adaptation of Polyushka Polye.
The song is also the basis for a Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
song called So Long the Path (So Wide the Field) featured on his 2003 album of Russian Songs Heart On Snow. .
It is also the basis for a song by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band Dark Lunacy
Dark Lunacy
Dark Lunacy is an Italian melodic death metal band, often using a string quartet-Biography:The band was founded in 1997 by singer Mike Lunacy and guitarist Enomys. It was not until 1999, with the addition of drummer Baijkal and bassist Harpad, that the band became complete and released their first...
called Forlorn from their first official album Devoid
Devoid
Devoid is the first official album released by Italian melodic death metal band Dark Lunacy.-Track listing:# "Dolls" - 7:06# "Stalingrad" - 7:11# "Forlorn" - 6:46# "Frozen Memory" - 6:46# "Cold Embrace" - 6:05# "December" - 7:01# "Devoid" - 1:25...
.
The song has also been made popular and sometimes mandatory in Swedish student contexts, after its initial introduction in the student theatre Katarina II (performed by Chalmersspexet). In such situations, it is commonly referred to as Livet or Livet är härligt. As a consequence, the pianeur of said theatre, Jan Johansson, later performs same song under the title Stepp, min stepp in the 1967 album Jazz på ryska (Jazz in Russian).
The song also featured in the game World in Conflict
World in Conflict
World in Conflict, or WiC, is a real-time tactical video game developed by the Swedish video game company Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows. The game was released in September 2007...
.