Story behind the song
To The Rhine, poem by Nikolai Yazikov, (1803-1846),
For Chorus and Orchestra, in the Original Russian
If you happen to be a choral director, and you are fretting over your program for a simultaneous broadcast, World-wide, live at night, to 17 countries, outdoors, from Red Square at night -- no worries! -- I've got you covered!
Instrumentation:
Piccolo, Flute (2), Clarinet (2), Bass Clarinet, Bassoon (2), Horn (4), Trumpet (2), Trombone (2), Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Harp, Chorus, (SATB).
Lyrics
The work is in the original Russian. The translation of the poem is as follows:
Nikolai Mikhailovich Yazykov (1803-1846)
To The Rhine
I saw how your green waves run
At the light of a Spring day,
Playing noisily, full of glittering reflections,
Swaying me gently;
I saw bright, magnificent scenes:
Bends, and open spaces,
Your cheerful chestnut trees and regions,
The grapes on the slopes of mountains,
The mountains, and on them the high tombs
Of former heroes, the tombs of knights,
The valor and strength of bygone days!
I am from the river, Volga. I have brought greetings
To you from her. Have you heard of her?
You are great, and fine! But Volga is bigger and
More beautiful, More superb and magnificent,
Deeper, faster, wider, and more blue!
Not so, does she seethe,
When with the rising winds
The crests of the waves ride and start talking!
But when her rustling waves do threaten in the Spring,
From the height of the shore
You will not be able to look through its flood
Across the waters to the islands!
Goes the empire as goes the river!..
Healthy greetings to you,
From the sovereign waters
Of extensive Russia,
Her well known course,
Always a solemn passage
Between hills, and mountains,
The way of many boatsmen
To the swells of the dark Caspian!
Greetings from her noble tributaries,
Her assistants and princes:
The Tverdsi, whose peaceful streams
Cherishes a thousand boats
Of different colors, a beautiful herd, crowded
Under the sonorous songs of the boatsmen;
Greetings to you, from the leafy forests
And flooded meadows of the Oka,
Towards the expanse of the Murom sand,
The regal current, flowing brilliantly and smoothly,
Within sight of revered shores,-
Ancient temples with radiant cupolas
Looking into the clear depths,
The quiet ringing of church bells carried above the waters,
Treasured voice of old!-
The Sura, a Beauty wandering thoughtfully
Hiding herself in the thickness of forests,
Her shining fields under a wide fan of sails;
The Industrious Sviyagi, playful and sleepless,
Among the cares of welfare,
The loving knock of wheels, the unruly splashing
And rumble of working waters;
To you, distant greetings from the countries of Biarmii,
The calm Tsarina of rivers,
The gloomy Kama, deep and wide,
Whose waterway is strong and rapid,
Under the cries of eagles the grey swells
Of the Katya's rocky coast,
Bears iron, forest wood and heaps of salt
On giant paws;
Greetings from the Samara, whose living current
Does not hear the sound of visitors,
She pours her richness onto
Golden fields of Wheat;
Greetings from the quick and valiant Cheremshana,
From two meadows of the Irghizov,
From the quiet and free streams of the Sihzrana,
From all, greater and smaller,
Countless streams stately tributaries,
Majestic northern river,
I have brought greetings to you!.. Flow with glory,
Prince of many rivers, brightly flow!
Shine, and be proud, Rhine! Neither storm of war,
Nor enemy's joyful song
Will you ever hear for long; blessed is the
world of your peaceful shores!
Love and daring youth, dreaming and walking
In the shade of wide branches, what delightful happiness to kiss, In the presence of the ringing of crystal blue waters!
1840
(Composer's Translation)
If you are interested in obtaining the sheet music, or an audio MP3 file, please contact me at adhikapokoya@gmail.com
