| Kalinka is maybe the most famous and the most recognizable Russian folk melody. Actually, it is not a folksong: it has a definite author, the composer Larionov, who wrote the song in 1860. But it captures the essence of Russian folk music as no other song. The word Kalinka is a name of a bush. I have seen translations as diverse as arrowwood, snowball bush, viburnum and highbush cranberry. That doesnt matter much, though: the name has no bearing on the meaning of the song. Not that the song has much meaning at all! The verses dont complement each other or the refrain. What can be extracted from this collection of incompatible lines is that a young boy is dreaming that a pretty, young maiden will love him. But of course it is not the nonsense of the text, but the beauty of music that made Kalinka so popular. And popular it is! There are countless Russian cafes, souvenir shops, dance groups and singing choirs, named after this song. There is even the dog breed: a small terrier called Kalinka! I play the song in my own arrangement. You can buy a high-quality MP3 of this song at www.cdbaby.com (Alexander Zlatkovski is an Alaskan pianist, born in Russia. His repertoire includes classical pieces, waltzes of all sorts -- from Tchaikovsky to Chopin to Strauss -- as well as his own arrangements of Russian, Italian, Jewish, and French songs. For information on concerts, weddings, and other events, or to buy CDs, visit www.AlaskanPianist.com ) |
