Song of the Volga Boatmen / Smirnov, Slavyanka

$18.99
Label
Sono Luminus
Release Date
August 29, 1996
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      SLAVYANKA
    • PERFORMER
      Slavyanka
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      August 29, 1996
    • UPC
      053479321220
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      DOR-93212
    • LABEL
      Sono Luminus
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      World
    Works ⌄

    1. Vivat (Live Long)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    2. Borodino (The Battle of Borodino)

      Composer: Anonymous

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    3. Soldatushki (Hey, Soldiers)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    4. Polyushko Poyle (Meadowlands)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    5. Eh, Ukhnyem (Song of the Volga Boatmen)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    6. V Tyomnom Lyese (Deep in the Forest)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    7. Vycherni Zvon (Evening Bells)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    8. Kolokolchik (Coachbells)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    9. No. 2. Tï vzoydi, solntse krasnoye (Rise, Fair Sun)

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    10. No. 3. U vorot, vorot batyshkinikh (At My Father's Gate)

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    11. No. 4. Uzh ti, volya, moya volya (O, My Freedom)

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    12. Vdol da Pa Byerizhku (Along the River)

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    13. Dvednatsat Razboinikov (Twelve Bandits)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    14. 3 Choruses from Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich: No. 2. Lyubov Svyataya (Sacred love)

      Composer: Georgy Vasilyevich Sviridov

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    15. Tikha Ukrainskaya Noch (Soft Ukranian Night) (arr. G. Smirnov)

      Composer: Rodion Konstantinovich Shchedrin

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    16. Iavnana (Lullaby)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    17. Shen Khar Venakhi (Thou Art a Vineyard)

      Composer: Anonymous

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    18. Kviria

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    19. Nye Syedi, Djemo (Don't Lie Around, Djemo)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    20. Veniki (Birch Switches)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    21. Priiyde Spas Dnyes (Come Saviour, Today)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov

    22. Mnogaya Lyeta (Many Years)

      Composer: Traditional

      Ensemble: Slavyanka Men's Russian Chorus

      Conductor: Gregory Smirnov


'Slavyanka' is a San Francisco-based, a cappella male chorus whose members are mostly non-Russian speakers. Apparently there is an authentic Russian heritage in San Francisco, as the group takes its name from the name given by early 19th-century Russian colonists to the river near their settlement, just north of the San Francisco Bay area. Slavayanka and their director, Gregory Smirnov, have selected a program of late 18th-20th century folksongs for this recording.

Slavyanka brings gusto and energy to their interpretations of these songs, some of which might be familiar to most listeners. The famous "Song of the Volga Boatmen" receives a darkly beautiful performance that is rich with atmosphere and highlighted by a solo from bass Bob Raber. The group is also solid in less familiar songs, notably "Birch Switches," a tune that is driven by animated rhythms and tricky counterpoint. Best of all is "Come Savior, Today," a hymn that mixes Byzantine chant and multi-tone singing to the accompaniment of a Tibetan bell--it's haunting music.