As a child, in Australia, I learned to play this on the piano. The translation began "Yo-o- heave -ho...Yo-o-heave-ho"...It tells the story of the Volga boatmen who had to haul their boats over land between stretches of watervand the Volga River. They used just manpower. There was not 1 continuous water route between St Petersburg and Moscow as there is now. It starts softly as you hear the boatmen singing to help them haul the boat, bending under the weight on the ropes. It grows in volume till the boatmen come into the 'presence of the viewer', then reduces in volume as the boatmen methodically trudge and heave their boat further and further away, hearing the Yo-o-heave-ho drifting off into the distance. It was magnificent to play, and as an 8 yr old it was wonderful to get that changing of volume just right. I always saw those boatmen and their hard life in my head. Later I had the sheer joy of standing in this room, listening to this vocal group in concert, ending with The Volga Boatmen. They were extraordinary. A Bucket List experience.
Pulling boats over land (known as "volok" in Russian) was a different phenomenon, not related to this particular song. The "boatmen" of this song were known in Russian as "burlak", and their job was different. Firstly, they worked as any boat crew would, steering the boat as it was going downstream or under sail. If it got stuck, it'd be a hell of a job to get it back into the river. Secondly though, if there was no wind, the common way of getting boats upstream against the river was to pull them, either by draft horses or by a team of burlaks. There's a famous painting by Ilya Repin "Burlaks on the Volga". They borrowed the motif from the song "Dubinushka" (the two are often confused), which is a lumberjack song - they would make cuts in the trees' base and then pull them. The burlaks borrowed this method for situations when the boat got stuck - a tree with a wide canopy would be cut down, chained to the boat, and would act as an underwater sail, catching the river's stream to pull the boat off the shallows. So this song was used for both pulling down the trees, and for pulling the boats themselves upstream.
We were taught this song, in English, at our primary school in Scotland back in the 1940's. We loved it. When I left school, I went to Australia but never lost the urge to see the mighty Volga. I had to wait nearly 50 years but finally made it and rushed down the bank to dip my hands in its waters. Once I was back on the bus I explained why I had held them up for a few minutes and sang the song in English to the Russians on board. They had not realised that the song about "their" river was known so well outside Russia. This rendition was glorious. I have put it in my "save" file.
Fred, would you have a link to a version sung in English? I went looking after seeing your comment, but couldn't find anything. All I remember from my childhood is the basic melody being used in some cartoons.
I come back and listen to this every so often and I wish I knew why but it makes me sob uncontrollably. Like I go from normal to sobbing in about 15 seconds and I have no idea why. But this folk song rips through me every time. I know the meaning of catharsis because of this video
This is more than just any folk song. It is perhaps THE epic version of Russian folk song. And while such things have died, been murdered, across almost all of Western and Central Europe, this remains from Russia to remain us of the roots deep in rich soil that our ancestors all once thrived in.
I have heard this ensemble twice, in this very room. They are simply amazing. Their intonation and dynamics and just perfect. The bass is Pavel Myatokin, who has the most impressive, powerful, and clear low notes.
My family was volga germans; took Catherine the Great up on her offer of land and immunity to military conscription. We left when the latter was retracted.
elena cara Very true. All the guys are a perfect compliment to each other. I would love to see them live in person, to experience that would be breathtaking!
Imagine being Russian and growing up immersed in all of this .. nothing cant describe what it's like . "I am Russian!!! What a amazing delight!!!" Said great military leader of all times Suvorov
In relation to the word "boatmen", these are not the same boatmen with oars, these boatmen were called "burlaky" - they pulled large boats or barges with goods on the straps along the river along the shore (usually against the current). Sometimes they were on the ship, someone pulled the anchor upstream, attached it, and the rest pulled the ship with a rope to this anchor. This was before the steam ships. There is a painting by the great Russian artist Ilya Repin - "Burlaky on the Volga". See how hard their work was.
Jonny Rigdon definitely ashamed to be American now ... it’s humiliating how we are seen by civilized society...certainly I feel the Americans are all judged by our “leadership” but many of us are not of that mindset
The memorable tune of The Song of the Volga Boatmen has led to its common usage in many musical situations, particularly as background music, often with the theme of unremitting toil (or, alternatively, devotion to duty).
Huh, that's strange all girls speak in a higher pitch when talking to me, however I tend to speak really low when I speak with anyone... I feel like my voice gets down to Pavel level.
Here in Kamloops, BC, Canada, a typical school choir consists of 37 girls, and 1, maybe 2 boys with hopeful facial expressions. I would dearly love to get my hands on a CD by this ensemble; I'd let the local high school music coordinator play it for students. Even if precious few of us guys can ever hope to approach the level of this Kovcheg ensemble, I'm sure the sheer awesomeness of their sound would inspire more young guys to join choir.
James Lyall here in vancouver my highschool chamber choir has an equal number of boys and girls! and our larger ensemble is pretty similar aswell without 2 boys for every 3 girls i would guess
Our Choir in Münster-germany was mixed with mostly boys. One of my classmates studies classical singing in Wien and Italy and is now Bariton at the opera of flensburg.
Man that tone sounds like straight from a string. And that in itself is absolutely impressive. Hats off. The composition generally is always on point - hope I can hear them live one day.
Maximum love to the oktavist, but that tenor is incredible as well. He makes that high Ab seem effortless. Do you have any more information about this group?
Yes, the whole ensemble is quite skilled! Their line-up has changed over the years, so I'm not 100% of the names of the current performers. In the summer they perform in at the Epiphany Cathedral in Uglich for tourists. They generally sing on sacred song and one folk song. There is a cruise that goes through Uglich and I think they perform for the tourists on the cruises a lot--that's where many of these videos come from.
It took Phil Spector a thousand saxophones, ten drum kits, a battalion of backing vocalists, and a murdered actress to achieve the "wall of sound"... ...these five lads showed up and hummed him off his pedestal.
I cannot get enough of this song. I cannot get enough of this sound and the meaning if this song. People today have in some parts of the world forgotten how to suffer...
Why did I just find it now? I'm not a musician, do not understand any of the technical things... But this was mind-blowing. I am Russian, and I have heard the song a thousand times. This is the best rendition I've ever heard.
Fantastic. That basso profondo, especially. What a skill. The shots of the river are a magnificent accompaniment to the music. Thank you for the video.
Sublime interprétation de ce magnifique chant russe. Des voix exceptionnelles qui m'ont fait décoller pour survoler le grand fleuve, aidé aussi par les très belles images. Merci.
Lyrics for those who want to sing along Ey, ukhnyem! Ey, ukhnyem! Yeshcho razik, yeshcho da raz! Ey, ukhnyem! Ey, ukhnyem! Yeshcho razik, yeshcho da raz! Razovyom my byeryozu, Razovyom my kudryavu! Ai-da, da ai-da, Ai-da, da ai-da, Razovyom my kudryavu. Ey, ukhnyem! Ey, ukhnyem! Razovyom my kudryavu. Ey, ukhnyem! Ey, ukhnyem! Yeshcho razik, yeshcho da raz! Ekh, ty, Volga, mat'-reka, Shiroka i gluboka, Ai-da, da ai-da, Ai-da, da ai-da, Shiroka i gluboka, Ey, ukhnyem! Ey, ukhnyem! Volga, Volga, mat'-reka Ey, ukhnyem! Ey, ukhnyem! Yeshcho razik, yeshcho da raz! Ey, ukhnyem! Ey, ukhnyem!
@@transformatamellina9762 For that sharp "h" sound, as in the German "Ich", is written "kh" in the English phonetic alphabet. Both letters represent one sound, just like "ch" or "th". It's just the best way to show this specific "h" sound.
Listening to the ' Song of the Volga Boatmen ' always moves me to tears , thank you so much .Nostalgia for the 12 hours I had to spend at Moscow airport in the early 1970s before Perestroika . Although not allowed to wander or engage in conversation with staff , my history lessons about Russian Communism versus Chinese Communism stood me in good stead , vast beautiful mysterious seductive Russia . Oh ! Those memories and dreams are precious , although I am almost 70yrs old. .if God wills it ..I will come to the Country of my youthful longing 's ..
Indeed--sometimes the videos are even more impressive when shot from far away, despite the not-as-good view! Videos of the oktavist voice communicate the unique power of this voice somewhat better than an audio recording.
Marvellous. I was there two weeks ago. A quartet from the same group. It was magical. Thanks for the link to oktavism. I used to have a male voice octet. I was the low bass and have reached low A, one note above this one's best. It must have been a following wind. Congratulations on the filming. Very good.
I was first introduced to this song back in '66 the way millions of other Americans were - in the opening credits of "The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming!" I was 12 at the time, but found the song thrilling to listen to and so different. Over the years since I regularly listen to it when I need to be inspired.
FUN FACT: IF YOU PLAYED GRAND THEFT AUTO ONLINE AND BOUGHT THE SUBMARINE TO DO THE CAYO PERICO HEIST THIS IS THE SONG THE CHARACTER PAVEL SINGS DURING THE CUTSCENE WHEN YOU FIRST ENTER THE SUBMARINE TO MEET HIM. He only sings a little bit of it so it's cool to hear the whole song 🥰 Edit: I see other comments talking about a person named Pavel, the one I'm referring to is from a video game.
Люди слушают настоящую русскую музыку , восхищаются ...все комменты на английском, это приятно, в свою очередь выражу своё мнение и восхищение качеством голосов и самого пения!!!
Хор - блеск. Бас, как изюминка, просто умопомрачительно! В зале все иностранцы повскакивали! Бас - фантастика! Песня - о рабочей ! реке России! Сам пою в хоре. В Нижнем Новгороде. У реки Волга.
Just enchanting got goosebumps and the river. Always been fantasized by Russia and the Baltic countries amazing voices chilling tears flowing. I would love to visit but no tour for me
Fantastic, the Octavian choir are sensational, the video lays before us the history and majesty of the Volga river, I am too old and decrepit to get to Russia, but the Volga holds for me magical significance having read Russian literature. I once read an account of an Australian, who followed alongside the Volga, he being in a coach, the coach suddenly stopped and he ran down to the Volga , putting his hand in, and saying that now he could die happy in the knowledge that by touching the water he’d fulfilled a lifelong ambition, that’s what it means to some people?
This just came into my feed. Very stirring. You'd have to be dead not to be moved by it. That last note is...inhumanly low. I sing bass myself, but I might as well be a eunuch next to Myakotin.
The men hauling ropes for the ferry crossing in East Griqualand (at that time) sang this song to set the rhythm of pulling. That was 70 years ago and I've never forgotten it.
I too have heard this performance "live in the same room." When you are in the room with them, you simply cannot imagine how it is possible for a Russian bass to sing those lower notes. You feel it as much as hear it. Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
