Lyr Req: Korobushka

Subject: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: GUEST,Desahra
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 07:12 PM

I've heard that the Korobushka is a poem, made into a song, made into a dance. I've been trying to find the poem to no avail. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: artbrooks
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 07:36 PM

We have the (Russian)lyrics, but not a poem. Would they be useful?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 08:13 PM

No luck with English lyrics.

I thought it (more common as "Korobuchka" or "Korobochka") to be a dance tune. The dance description is HERE (without lyrics); score is HERE. MIDI is HERE, and HERE (in the middle of the page as "Oh, Polnim polna moya korobochka"). An index says it is translated as "The Peddler" in English, which I don't have. I've found the Russian and Japanese lyrics HERE (code shift to JIS or other Japanese language system is required to read it; with midi, mp3 (Russian), & score (click just on the right to "mp3")).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 08:31 PM

Great Mudcat! Found it here at Russian Folk Songs with English Translations as "The Packman" (with score, English lyrics & midi).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 08:45 PM

Other titles include "The Peddler - I Travel Up and Down"; "The Peddler - See My Pack So Overflowing"; "The Peddler's Pack"; "The Pedlar - Ah, My Heavy Pack Is Nearly Bursting"; and "Korbooska" (according to Brunnings' Folk Song Index).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 09:40 PM

The original poem was written by Nekrasov Nikolay (1821-1877), and was contained in The Poem "Korobeiniki" (1861) as Îé, ïîëíà, ïîëíà êîðîáóøêà (Russian decoding is required), which is transliterated as Oj, polna, polna korobushka).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 Jan 03 - 09:22 AM

Russian karaoke (the third song from the top).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 Jan 03 - 06:59 PM

English translation from HERE:

Peddlers

"Oy, the crate is full, full,
With chintz and brocade,
Come on now my sweetie pie,
You with the fetching shoulders!

Go out, out into the tall rye!
There till nighttime I'll wait,
I'll catch sight of my black-eyed beauty,
And all my goods I'll divvy-out.

I myself paid no small prices,
So don't skimp or bargan:
Bring here your crimson lips,
Sit nearer to your beloved!"

Hazy night has already fallen,
A dashing youth -- he awaits...
Listen, it's her! -- she comes as promised
To peddle her wares.

Katia tenderly barters her goods,
Afraid to give it all away.
The youth kisses the maiden,
Proposing to raise the price.

Only the deep night knows
How they came to terms,
Straighten up now, tall rye,
And keep their sacred secret!

There's another score (with chords) HERE (zipped pdf file).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 27 Jan 03 - 08:59 AM

Another translation from MIT Folk Dance Songbook (p. 94) [PostScript file; GSview required] (TEXT file).

Korobushka

"Hey! Full, full is my box,
I've got cotton and brocades, too!
Have pity, my sweetheart,
on a fellow's shoulder.

"Come, come out into the field of high-growing rye.
I will wait there till nightfall,
and when I see my black-eyed beauty,
I'll spread out all my wares.

"I paid good prices for them.
Don't bargain, don't be stingy,
come, hold out your bright red lips,
nestle closer to your sweetheart."

The misty night has fallen,
the bold young fellow is waiting.
Hark, here she comes! She has come, the beloved.
And the peddlar sells his wares.

Katya bargains with discretion,
afraid of paying too much.
The boy kisses the girl
and begs her to raise the price.

The night alone
knows how they came to terms.
Straighten up, high-growing rye
keep your secret faithfully!

"Hey, light, light is my box,
the strap doesn't cut into my shoulders!
Yet all my sweetheart took
was a turquoise ring."

This song is an excerpt from the poem Korobeinikov ("The Peddlers") by Nikolai Nekrasov.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 27 Jan 03 - 09:11 AM

Some background info from HERE:

The Russian 19th century poet Nekrasov wrote a poem on a hawker. Later the tune "Korobushka" was written to this poem. This tune became very popular in the late 19th century Russian cities and country side. Soon a dance "Korobotschka" developed. In the beginning of the 20th century Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine brought the dance to the USA. The Ukrainian Micheal Herman learned the dance from his teacher Abramenko. The fast Herman version became very popular in the 40's in the USA. The steps of the original Korobushka were much smaller and slower than of the fast form. Also, the first part (arm movements, turn, clap, Hungarian-like closing-step) is absent in the original version.

Source: H. Konings (1994), Hoe heet die dans/2: Korobushka. In:
Barinya Brief '94, nr. 5, p. 5.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Korobushka
From: masato sakurai
Date: 27 Jan 03 - 10:51 AM

There's another vocal version titled "Korobeyniki" HERE, with Russian lyrics & sound recording.

Song & dance video is HERE.
"The Peddler"
This lyric folk song and dance has been a Russian favorite for 150 years. A countryside peddler has a basket filled with attractive prints and brocades. At first-sight he falls in love with a pleasant girl. He is ready to lay at her feet all his worldly goods for a glance from her dark eyes and a kiss from her ruby-red-lips. Lyrics are by the great poet N. Nekrasov "Only the dark night knows how they got on together".