This piece is a transcription of the Russian folk song "Yablochko," or "Little Apple" in Russian. The song has 8 verses, and is a pre-Russian revolution song. It talks about allying with the Bolsheviks, supporting Vladimir Lenin, and embracing the communist regime.
Verses | Original Russian | Russian Transliteration | English Translation |
Verse 1 |
Эх, яблочко, Куда ты котишься? Ко мне в рот попадешь - Не воротишься. . |
Jeh, jablochko, Kuda ty kotish'sja? Ko mne v rot popadesh' Ne vorotish'sja. |
Little Apple, Where are you going to? You'll get into my mouth and never come back |
Verse 2 |
"Эх, яблочко, На тарелочке. . Надоела мне жена, Пойду к девочке. |
Jeh, jablochko, |
Little Apple Is on the plate. I am tired of my wife I will go to young girl |
Verse 3 |
Эх, яблочко, Ананасное. Не ходи за мной, буржуй, Я вся красная. |
Jeh, jablochko, Ananasnoe. Ne hodi za mnoj, burzhuj, Ja vsja krasnaja. |
Oh, Little apple, Pineapple kind. Do not follow me, bourgeois, I am with Bolsheviks |
Verse 4 |
Пароход плывет - Вода кольцами. Будем рыбу кормить Добровольцами! |
Parohod plyvet - Voda kol'cami. Budem rybu kormit' Dobrovol'cami! |
The steamboat is going, The water makes rings We will feed the fish With Volunteers |
Verse 5 |
Эх, яблочко, С боку зелено, Надоел мне Колчак - Хочу Ленина. |
Jeh, jablochko, S boku zeleno, Nadoel mne Kolchak - Hochu Lenina. |
Oh little apple, Green on the side. I am tired of Kolchak, I want Lenin instead |
Verse 6 |
Эх, яблочко, Покатилося. Колчаковская власть Обвалилась. |
Jeh, jablochko, Pokatilosja. Kolchakovskaja vlast' Obvalilas'. |
Little apple is rolling. The Kolchak's regime Has fallen apart. |
Verse 7 |
Эх, яблочко, Оловянное. Комиссарская власть - Окаянная. |
Jeh, jablochko, Olovjannoe. Komissarskaja vlast' Okajannaja. |
Oh little apple, Made of Tin The comissar's regime is damned. |
Verse 8 |
Коммунист молодой Зачем женишься? Придет Нестор Махно - Куда денешься? |
Kommunist molodoj Zachem zhenish'sja? Pridet Nestor Mahno - Kuda denesh'sja? |
Young communist, Why do you get married? Nestor Makhno will get back You are in big trouble! |
This song is originally written for Russian folk instruments including the Bayan (Russian Accordion) and the Balaika. Typically there is a lot of improvisation in the original theme of the song, and it turns into a virtuosic set of variations. It also has an easy four beat pattern to dance to, that gets faster overall. This song is also a traditional Russian naval song, and is part of the Russian naval culture.
The folk song is taught orally, and seems to be customary for the Russian Navy. According to anthologies of Russian Pre-Revolution songs, locals would make up their own verses to the tune, so it may have changed from city to city and village to village. Since the theme repeats itself, it is very easy to add variations and make each verse more and more complicated.
Yablochka/Russian Sailor's Dance is still very popular around the world. There are even groups in the United States specializing in Russian dance music who perform the dance regularly.
This song serves as a preservation tool of Russia before the revolution, and is a well know, defined part of Russian culture today. It is still sung/danced in the Russian navy, and continues to live on in dance, vocal, and instrumental performances. It is an example of Russian nationalism through music.
This piece expresses the feelings of Russian pride and nationalism. It is still sung, performed, and danced today. I think that it provides a connection to Russia for those no longer live there, and the sound is so distinctly Russian, with the accents, and the heavy marcato that Gliere writes in this piece that it is instantly recognizable as being Russian.
The most important part is to emphasize all of the accents, sforzandi, and articulations. These articulations make this piece clearly Russian. According to Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra, "Articulations are well Marked in the score and must be accurately observed to elicit the Russian atmosphere of this programmatic composition based in nineteenth century romantic style" (Allen, 234-235)
Title | Embedded address | Title | Embedded address |
Performances
Orchestra Name | Month-Year | School-Location
|
Conductor-Teacher |
Wilkings Junior High School | November 2009 | Niles West High School - Middle School Orchestra Clinic | Christina Hudson |
Herrick Middle School | November 2009 | Niles West High School - Middle School Orchestra Clinic | Lindsay Klecka |