Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950

Subject: RE: Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 05:20 AM

Thanks, I sure wish my mom could remember more!

Subject: RE: Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950
From: Artful Codger
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 02:48 PM

I flashed on "Kalinka", too (as well as another warhorse, "Katyusha", which also mentions berries), but neither follows the story line described. Nor does "Zemlyanichka-yagodka", which is the closest popular folk song I could find with wild strawberries mentioned explicitly in the title. Of course, berry picking was a popular expedient for young lovers to meet, court, have sex and in consequence babies, so berries feature in many Russian folk songs.

I thought I was on a hot trail with raspberry-themed songs (malina/malinka/malinushka) such as "Oy kalina, oy malina" and "Iz-pod duba, iz-pod vyaza", but the story lines don't gibe. (Is it just me, or does the bass in the latter clip resemble Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz?) another song with the chorus line of "Oy kalina, oy malina" is "Otdavali molodu" (guitar solo) (ensemble)--I have a lovely version of this by the Fyodorova Sisters.

Subject: RE: Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950
From: artbrooks
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 09:27 AM

Possible that could be "Kalinka" - which apparently means 'snowberry'. Both the Red Army and Don Cossack Choruses did that, and performances are on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 06:37 AM

where's my post?

it was just under leeneia's post & said 'Ditto' or Me, too' or something like that.

sandra

Subject: RE: Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950
From: GUEST,CoriSCapnSkip
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 12:24 AM

Wow, so many choices! My mom remembers a song about a young couple who went to pick wild strawberries and named their little girl "Wild Strawberries." Anyone understand enough Russian to identify this song and know which chorus during that time frame may have sung it? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950
From: artbrooks
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 12:02 AM

May have also been the Don Cossack Chorus (here). They were around - according to Wiki - from 1921 until nearly 1980. Herself (who's family listened to this stuff) says that the Red Army Chorus was a little bit later. I think we have a record around someplace.

Subject: RE: Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Aug 11 - 11:32 PM

Thanks for the link, Artful.

Subject: RE: Tech: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950
From: Artful Codger
Date: 13 Aug 11 - 02:41 AM

At a guess, the Red Army Choir aka. The Alexandrov Choir, which you can hear in many clips on YouTube. For instance, try this clip:
В путь (On the road, or Let's Go!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8qakI4mDII
They toured and recorded quite a lot. Then again, if they weren't in uniforms, it was probably some other group, like the Kuban Cossack Choir (did they wear tall fuzzy hats?)

Їхав козак за Дунай (The Cossack rode over the Duna)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q-OzsOmi00

And for good measure, one which never fails to choke me up:
Вечер на рейде (Night on the campaign, or Farewell, beloved city).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJAI5hhsFjI
I'm not sure if the Soviet Choir is a later incarnation of the Red Army Choir or a different ensemble altogether. But I believe it was mainly the Red Army Choir which popularized this song.

Subject: Men's Russian Chorus, 1945-1950?
From: GUEST,CoriSCapnSkip
Date: 13 Aug 11 - 01:08 AM

Is there any way of identifying a Russian Men's Chorus which performed at the Philadelphia Academy of Music around 1945 - 1950? They made records and my mom said their singing was the best she ever heard. The Academy of Music Archives are closed due to lack of funding. Thanks for any help.