A few days ago Lada Ray posted an article A Tiny Russian Girl with Huge Mystical Talent: My Collection of Songs by 9-year-old Yaroslava Degtyariova, where she literally discovered for me an amazing, pure singer, a 9-year old Russian girl, Yaroslava Degtyariova.
One song especially touched me – “The Ballad of the Three Sons”. It is an allegoric song in which one can see echoes of the classic Russian folk fairy tales, as passed through the generations. It also holds a key.
On many occasions I saw the term of the “mysterious Russian soul”, which the Westerners bemoan having trouble deciphering and understanding. This song can unlock this mystery, as the key to the Rus soul is hidden in the actions and aspirations of the third son, while the first and the second sons depict the typical traits of the Western civilisations.
And so, here is the song by Tatyana Shilova, performed in the pure voice of Yaroslava Degtyariova, with my attempt at a poetic translation below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhceNxzlmt4
Yaroslava Degtyariova at the Day of Love & Family concert, July 8, 2017, Murom: THE BALLAD OF THE THREE SONS.
В краю средь гор и цветущих долин В дорогу звал глас таинственных гор. Слова Отца были грусти полны: И звучало в ответ эхо горных вершин Прошли года, затерялись вдали. И первый сын возвратился домой: Второй принёс золотые дары: И звучало в ответ эхо горных вершин. А третий сын на коленях стоял: “Душа твоя и добра и чиста. Но ты хранил любовь мою. И звучало в ответ эхо горных вершин: |
Amidst the mountains and blooming dales, Three sons were setting off, The Father’s words were with sorrow filled: And the mountain peaks echoed back: The years passed, lost in sight. And so the first son returned home: The second one brought home the gifts of gold: And the mountain peaks echoed back: While the third son sank down to his knees: “Your soul is both kind and pure, You kept my love true. And the mountain peaks echoed back: |
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