Stenka Razin - in Russian Culture and Folklore

In Russian Culture and Folklore

Razin is the subject of a symphonic poem by Alexander Glazunov, a cantata by Shostakovich, a novel I Have Come To Give You Freedom (ru:Я пришёл дать вам волю) by Vasily Shukshin.

Stenka Razin is the hero of a popular Russian folk song, Ponizovaya Volnitsa, better known by the words Volga, Volga mat' rodnaya. The words were written by Dmitri Sadovnikov (Дмитрий Николаевич Садовников) in 1883; the music is folk. The song gave the title to the famous Soviet musical comedy Volga-Volga. The melody was used by Tom Springfield in the song "The Carnival Is Over" that placed The Seekers at #1 in 1965 in Australia and the UK.

The lyrics of the song were dramatized in one of the very first Russian narrative films, Stenka Razin directed by Vladimir Romashkov in 1908. The film lasts about 10 minutes. The screenplay was written by Vasily Goncharov, and the music (the first film music to be specially written to accompany a silent film) was by Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov.

Words in Russian	Transcribed	English language version
Из-за острова на стрежень, На простор речной волны, Выплывают расписные, Острогрудые челны.	Iz-za ostrova na strezhen', Na prostor rechnoy volny, Vyplyvayut raspisnye, Ostrogrudye chelny.	From beyond the wooded island To the river wide and free Proudly sailed the arrow-breasted Ships of Cossack yeomanry.
На переднем Стенька Разин, Обнявшись, сидит с княжной, Свадьбу новую справляет, Сам веселый и хмельной.	Na perednem Sten'ka Razin, Obnyavshis', sidit s knyazhnoy, Svad'bu novuyu spravlyaet, Sam veselyi i khmel'noy.	On the first is Stenka Razin With his princess by his side Drunken holds in marriage revels With his beauteous young bride
Позади их слышен ропот: Нас на бабу променял! Только ночь с ней провозился Сам наутро бабой стал . . . .	Pozadi ikh slyschen ropot: Nas na babu promenyal! Tol'ko noch' s nej provozilsja Sam nautro baboy stal . . . .	From behind there comes a murmur "He has left his sword to woo; One short night and Stenka Razin Has become a woman, too."
Этот ропот и насмешки Слышит грозный атаман, И могучею рукою Обнял персиянки стан.	Etot ropot i nasmeshki Slyshit groznyi ataman, I mogucheju rukoju Obnjal persijanki stan.	Stenka Razin hears the murmur Of his discontented band And his lovely Persian princess He has circled with his hand.
Брови черные сошлися, Надвигается гроза. Буйной кровью налилися Атамановы глаза.	Brovi chornye soshlisya, Nadvigaetsya groza. Buynoy krov'yu nalilisya Atamanovy glaza.	His dark brows are drawn together As the waves of anger rise; And the blood comes rushing swiftly To his piercing jet black eyes.
"Ничего не пожалею, Буйну голову отдам!" — Раздаётся голос властный По окрестным берегам.	"Nichevo ne pozhaleyu, Bujnu golovu otdam!" — Razdayotsya golos vlastnyi Po okrestnym beregam.	"I will give you all you ask for Head and heart and life and hand." And his voice rolls out like thunder Out across the distant land.
"Волга, Волга, мать родная, Волга, русская река, Не видала ты подарка От донского казака!	"Volga, Volga, mat' rodnaya, Volga, russkaya reka, Ne vidala ty podarka Ot donskovo kazaka!	Volga, Volga, Mother Volga Wide and deep beneath the sun, You have never seen such a present From the Cossacks of the Don.
Чтобы не было раздора Между вольными людьми, Волга, Волга, мать родная, На, красавицу возьми!"	Shtoby ne bylo razdora Mezhdu vol'nymi ljud'mi, Volga, Volga, mat' rodnaja, Na, krasavitsu voz'mi!"	So that peace may reign forever In this band so free and brave Volga, Volga, Mother Volga Make this lovely girl a grave.
Мощным взмахом поднимает Он красавицу княжну И за борт ее бросает В набежавшую волну.	Moshchnym vzmakhom podnimaet On krasavitsu knyazhnu I za bort eyo brosaet V nabezhavshuyu volnu.	Now, with one swift mighty motion He has raised his bride on high And has cast her where the waters Of the Volga roll and sigh.
"Что ж вы, братцы, приуныли? Эй, ты, Филька, черт, пляши! Грянем песню удалую На помин ее души!.."	"Shto zh vy, bratsy, priunyli? Ej, ty, Fil'ka, chert, pljashi! Grjanem pesnyu udaluyu Na pomin ee dushi!.."	"Dance, you fools, and let's be merry What is this that's in your eyes? Let us thunder out a chanty To the place where beauty lies."
Из-за острова на стрежень, На простор речной волны, Выплывают расписные Острогрудые челны.	Iz-za ostrova na strezhen', Na prostor rechnoy volny, Vyplyvajut raspisnye Ostrogrudiye chelny.	From beyond the wooded island To the river wide and free Proudly sailed the arrow-breasted Ships of Cossack yeomanry.

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