Stenka Razin (A Russian Ballad)

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Stenka Razin (A Russian Ballad)

By Thomas Keyes
Apr. 6, 2005

Stepan Timofeyevich Razin, or simply Stenka Razin (1630-1671), was a Cossack ataman (chief) who seized control of vast tracts of the Ukraine, sailed across the Caspian Sea to loot Persia (Iran) and with the riches thus amassed led an unsuccessful revolt against Tsar Alexei I (lived 1629-1676: reigned 1645-1676). Stenka’s revolt was suppressed and Stenka was beheaded.

Once, while sailing the Volga in a pirated ship, his men almost mutinied because he was dallying with a Persian princess he had captured and neglecting his chieftainship. So to appease his men, he threw the Persian princess into the river to her death.

On March 27, 2005, I posted an article on Stenka, who is a folk hero in Russian literature and music.

There is a traditional ballad called “Stenka Razin” as well, with 12 stanzas, including a single repeat of the first stanza, and I have provided my own transcription of the Russian lyrics, which is superior to the transcription usually provided in that it reproduces the actual pronunciatiom rather than the conventionalized correspondences. Here ‘y’ is a central vowel, between ‘i’ and ‘u’, unknown in Western languages, ‘j’ stands for English ‘y’, ‘kh’ for German ‘ch’, and ‘ch’ for English ‘ch’. I have added the accent marks, which do not appear in Russian. Incidentally, the numerous “j’s” represent a phenomenon called palatalization, common in the Slavic languages. Often in transcriptions, this refinement is just skipped.

I have also added my own literal translation, which does not fit the melody. When one tries to fit the melody, he generally has to alter the translation.

I personally have know this song since about 1983. Musically the song is not great, but it is a must for anyone interested in Russian, Ukrainian or Cossack folklore. The melody can be heard at this URL:

http://www.angelfire.com/ma2/canrusmidi/images/rus9.mid

The Cyrillic (Russian) lyrics can be seen at the following URL. Just scroll down to Number 3, where it is called by the first line rather than by the usual title, “Stenka Razin”:

http://www.zum.de/Faecher/Materialien/bosch/russisch/volkslieder.htm

Here is a URL for the sheet music, which also has a transcription and a translation, but they're not as authentic as mine:

http://russianplanet.ru/music/narod/strezhen.pdf

STENKA RAZIN (Russian Lyrics)

Iz-za óstrava na strjézhyn,
Na prastór rjichnój valný,
Vyplyvájut raspjisnýje
Astragrúdyje chilný.

Na pjirjédnjim Stjénjka Rázjin,
Abnjáfshys sjidjít sknjizhnój.
Svádjbu nóvuju spravljájit
On, vjisjólyj i khmiljnój.

A aná patúpja óchi,
Nji zhyvá i nji mjirtvá,
Mólcha slúshajit khmjiljnýje
Atamánavy slavá.

Pazadjí jikh slýshyn rópat:
“Nas na bábu pramjinjál.
Tóljka noch snjej pravazhálsja.
Sam na útra báboj stal.”

État rópat i nasmjéshki
Slýshyt gróznyj atamán,
I magúchiju rukóju
Abnjál pjirsjiánkji stan.

Bróvji chórnyje sashljísja.
Nadvjigájitsja grazá.
Bújnaj króvju naljiljísja
Atamánavy glazá.

“Njichivó nji pazhaljéju.
Bújnu gólavu addám.”
Razdajótsja gólas vlásnyj
Pa akrjésnym bjirjigám.

“Vólga, Vólga, matj radnája,
Vólga, rúskaja rjíka,
Nje vjidála ty padárka
Ad danskóva kazaká.”

“Shtabý njébyla razdóra
Mjézhdu vóljnymy ljudjmjí,
Vólga, Vólga, matj radnája,
Na krasávjitsu prjimjí.

Móshchnym vzmákham padnjimájit
On krasávjitsu knjizhnú,
I za bort jijó brasájit
Vnabjizáfshuju valnú.

“Shtosh vy brátsy prjiunýlji?
Ej ty Fjíljka, chort, pljishý.
Grjánjim pjésnju udalúju
Na pamjín jijó dushý.”

Iz-za óstrava na strjézhyn,
Na prastór rjichnój valný,
Vyplyvájut raspjisnýje
Astragrúdyje chilný.

STENKA RAZIN (English Translation)

From beyond the island into the open,
On the expanse of the waves of the river,
Sail the brightly painted
Ships with the sharp cutwaters.
On the first ship, Stenka Razin,
Sits in the embraces of the princess.
He is celebrating his new marriage,
Merry and drunk.

But she, lowering her eyes,
Neither alive nor dead,
Silently listens to the drunken
Ataman’s words.

Behind them is heard a murmur,
“They’ve turned us into a woman.
Just one night was spent with her.
In the morning I myself became a woman.”

This murmur and mockery
The fierce ataman did hear,
And with a mighty arm,
He took the Persian girl by the waist.

His dark brow was knitted.
The storm was advancing.
With wild blood were filled
The ataman’s eyes.

“I will spare nothing.
I will give away her wild head.”
The powerful voice is heard
On the nearby riverbanks.

“Volga, Volga, native mother,
Volga, Russian river,
You have never seen a gift
From a Don Cossack ataman.

“And lest there be a commotion
Among the sailing crowd,
Volga, Volga, native nother,
Receive the beauty.”

With a brawny arm he raises
The beautiful princess,
And he throws her overboard
Into the onrushing wave.

What, brothers, are you sad?
Hey, Filka, you devil, dance!
Let’s sing a mournful song
To the memory of her soul.

From beyond the island into the open,
On the expanse of the waves of the river,
Sail the brightly painted
Ships with the sharp cutwaters.

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About the author Thomas Keyes: I have written two books: A SOJOURN IN ASIA (non-fiction) and A TALE OF UNG (fiction), neither published so far.

I have studied languages for years and traveled extensively on five continents.

Email: udikeyes@yahoo.com

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