Natasha's Dance (129 page)
63
Long before the Russians ever knew their colonies as ethnographic facts, they had inven
Long before the Russians ever knew their colonies as ethnographic facts, they had inven
Long before the Russians ever knew their colonies as ethnographic facts, they had inven
Muslim south. It was Pushkin who did more than anyone to fix the Russian image of the Cauca
Muslim south. It was Pushkin who did more than anyone to fix the Russian image of the Cauca
Muslim south. It was Pushkin who did more than anyone to fix the Russian image of the Cauca
The Prisoner of the Caucasus
Childe Harold
A Hero of Our Times
64
65
This fascination with the Caucasus centred on more than a search for exotic charm, at lea
This fascination with the Caucasus centred on more than a search for exotic charm, at lea
This fascination with the Caucasus centred on more than a search for exotic charm, at lea
De la litterature du Midi de I’Europe
On Romantic Poetry
66
67
The Cossacks were a special caste of fiercely Russian soldiers living
The Cossacks were a special caste of fiercely Russian soldiers living
The Cossacks were a special caste of fiercely Russian soldiers living
since the sixteenth century on the empire’s southern and eastern frontiers in their own s
since the sixteenth century on the empire’s southern and eastern frontiers in their own s
since the sixteenth century on the empire’s southern and eastern frontiers in their own s
‘quzzaq’
The Cossacks are a people belonging to Europe in terms of their faith and location, but a
The Cossacks are a people belonging to Europe in terms of their faith and location, but a
The Cossacks are a people belonging to Europe in terms of their faith and location, but a
68
As a historian Gogol tried to link the nature of the Cossacks to the periodic waves of no
As a historian Gogol tried to link the nature of the Cossacks to the periodic waves of no
As a historian Gogol tried to link the nature of the Cossacks to the periodic waves of no
69
The Cossacks
When Pushkin travelled to the Caucasus, in the early 1820s, he
When Pushkin travelled to the Caucasus, in the early 1820s, he
When Pushkin travelled to the Caucasus, in the early 1820s, he
thought of himself as going to a foreign land. ‘I have never been beyond my own unbounded
thought of himself as going to a foreign land. ‘I have never been beyond my own unbounded
thought of himself as going to a foreign land. ‘I have never been beyond my own unbounded
A Journey to Arzrum
70
At heart I am yours
At heart I am yours
At heart I am yours
Forever and everywhere yours!71
Forever and everywhere yours!71
Forever and everywhere yours!71
71
The mountains were the inspiration and indeed the setting of many his works, including
The mountains were the inspiration and indeed the setting of many his works, including
The mountains were the inspiration and indeed the setting of many his works, including
A Hero of Our Times,
A Hero of Our Times).
Izmail Bey,
Izmail Bey
Where are the mountains, steppes and oceans Yet to be conquered by the Slavs in war? And whe
Where are the mountains, steppes and oceans Yet to be conquered by the Slavs in war? And whe
Where are the mountains, steppes and oceans Yet to be conquered by the Slavs in war? And whe
Auls are burning, their defenders mastered,
Auls are burning, their defenders mastered,
Auls are burning, their defenders mastered,
The homeland’s sons have fallen in battle.
The homeland’s sons have fallen in battle.
The homeland’s sons have fallen in battle.
Like steady comets, fearful to the eyes,
Like steady comets, fearful to the eyes,
Like steady comets, fearful to the eyes,
A glow is playing across the skies,
A glow is playing across the skies,
A glow is playing across the skies,
A beast of prey with bayonet, the victor
A beast of prey with bayonet, the victor
A beast of prey with bayonet, the victor
Charges into a peaceful house,
Charges into a peaceful house,
Charges into a peaceful house,
He kills the children and the old folks,
He kills the children and the old folks,
He kills the children and the old folks,
And with his bloody hand he strokes
And with his bloody hand he strokes
And with his bloody hand he strokes
The unmarried girls and young mothers.
The unmarried girls and young mothers.
The unmarried girls and young mothers.
But a woman’s heart can match her brother’s!
But a woman’s heart can match her brother’s!
But a woman’s heart can match her brother’s!
After those kisses, a dagger’s drawn,
After those kisses, a dagger’s drawn,
After those kisses, a dagger’s drawn,
A Russian cowers, gasps - he’s gone!
A Russian cowers, gasps - he’s gone!
A Russian cowers, gasps - he’s gone!
’Avenge me comrade!’ And in just a breath
’Avenge me comrade!’ And in just a breath
’Avenge me comrade!’ And in just a breath
(A fine revenge for a murderer’s death)
(A fine revenge for a murderer’s death)
(A fine revenge for a murderer’s death)
The little house now burns, a delight to their gaze,
The little house now burns, a delight to their gaze,
The little house now burns, a delight to their gaze,
Circassian freedom set ablaze!72
Circassian freedom set ablaze!72
Circassian freedom set ablaze!72
72
Lermontov was an accomplished watercolourist and in one self-portrait he paints himself w
Lermontov was an accomplished watercolourist and in one self-portrait he paints himself w
Lermontov was an accomplished watercolourist and in one self-portrait he paints himself w
A Hero of Our Times.
24. Watercolour copy of a lost self-portrait with Circassian sword and cloak by Mikhail
24. Watercolour copy of a lost self-portrait with Circassian sword and cloak by Mikhail
24. Watercolour copy of a lost self-portrait with Circassian sword and cloak by Mikhail
Watercolour copy of a lost self-portrait with Circassian sword and cloak by Mikhail Ler
the daughter of a Circassian chief, learns her Turkic language, and wears Circassian d
the daughter of a Circassian chief, learns her Turkic language, and wears Circassian d
the daughter of a Circassian chief, learns her Turkic language, and wears Circassian d
Lermontov was not the only Russian to adopt the Caucasus as his
Lermontov was not the only Russian to adopt the Caucasus as his
Lermontov was not the only Russian to adopt the Caucasus as his
’spiritual home’. The composer Balakirev was another ‘son of the mountains’. The founder
’spiritual home’. The composer Balakirev was another ‘son of the mountains’. The founder
’spiritual home’. The composer Balakirev was another ‘son of the mountains’. The founder
73
74
75
76
Balakirev attempted to evoke this love for the writer in his symphonic poem Tamara (1866-81
Balakirev attempted to evoke this love for the writer in his symphonic poem Tamara (1866-81
Balakirev attempted to evoke this love for the writer in his symphonic poem Tamara (1866-81
Tamara
Tamara
And strange wild sounds
And strange wild sounds
And strange wild sounds
All night were heard from there
All night were heard from there
All night were heard from there
As if in this empty tower
As if in this empty tower
As if in this empty tower
A hundred horny young men and girls
A hundred horny young men and girls
A hundred horny young men and girls
Came together on a wedding night
Came together on a wedding night
Came together on a wedding night
Or on the feast of a great funeral.’
Or on the feast of a great funeral.’
Or on the feast of a great funeral.’
The musical devices which Balakirev used were mostly from the common stock of ‘oriental s
The musical devices which Balakirev used were mostly from the common stock of ‘oriental s
The musical devices which Balakirev used were mostly from the common stock of ‘oriental s
all these songs the harmonies were based on the pentatonic (or five-tone) scale common
all these songs the harmonies were based on the pentatonic (or five-tone) scale common
all these songs the harmonies were based on the pentatonic (or five-tone) scale common
Tamara
This oriental element was one of the hallmarks of the Russian music school developed by t
This oriental element was one of the hallmarks of the Russian music school developed by t
This oriental element was one of the hallmarks of the Russian music school developed by t
kucbkists
kuchka)
kuchkists’
Islamei
Prince Igor
Scheherazade
Ocean Symphony
[nemetschina
78
Along with Balakirev, Stasov was the major influence on the devel-opment of a Russian-or
Along with Balakirev, Stasov was the major influence on the devel-opment of a Russian-or
Along with Balakirev, Stasov was the major influence on the devel-opment of a Russian-or
kuchkist
Prince Igor
Scheherazade,
tried to account for the profound influence of the Orient on Russian composers:
tried to account for the profound influence of the Orient on Russian composers:
tried to account for the profound influence of the Orient on Russian composers:
Some of them personally saw the Orient. Others, although they had not travelled to the East
Some of them personally saw the Orient. Others, although they had not travelled to the East
Some of them personally saw the Orient. Others, although they had not travelled to the East
79
For Stasov the significance of the Eastern trace in Russian art went far beyond exotic de
For Stasov the significance of the Eastern trace in Russian art went far beyond exotic de
For Stasov the significance of the Eastern trace in Russian art went far beyond exotic de
80
Stasov had first outlined the argument in his thesis on the origins of Russian ornament du
Stasov had first outlined the argument in his thesis on the origins of Russian ornament du
Stasov had first outlined the argument in his thesis on the origins of Russian ornament du
81
82
25. Vladimir Stasov: study of the Russian letter ‘B’ from a fourteenth-century manuscrip
25. Vladimir Stasov: study of the Russian letter ‘B’ from a fourteenth-century manuscrip
25. Vladimir Stasov: study of the Russian letter ‘B’ from a fourteenth-century manuscrip
Vladimir Stasov: study of the Russian letter ‘B’ from a fourteenth-century manuscript of
people in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Stasov even found it as the calligra
people in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Stasov even found it as the calligra
people in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Stasov even found it as the calligra
Stasov turned next to the study of the byliny, the epic songs which contained Russia’s oldest f
Stasov turned next to the study of the byliny, the epic songs which contained Russia’s oldest f
Stasov turned next to the study of the byliny, the epic songs which contained Russia’s oldest f
byliny,
Origins of the Russian Byliny
byliny
borrowing - at that time just recently advanced by the German philologist Theodor Benfey.
borrowing - at that time just recently advanced by the German philologist Theodor Benfey.
borrowing - at that time just recently advanced by the German philologist Theodor Benfey.
byliny
Mahabharata,
Ramayana
Panchantra,
Stasov paid particular attention to the narrative details, the symbols and the motifs o
Stasov paid particular attention to the narrative details, the symbols and the motifs o
Stasov paid particular attention to the narrative details, the symbols and the motifs o
Sadko
Harivansa
83
Similarly, Stasov argued that the folk heroes (bogatyrs) of the byliny were really the des
Similarly, Stasov argued that the folk heroes (bogatyrs) of the byliny were really the des
Similarly, Stasov argued that the folk heroes (bogatyrs) of the byliny were really the des
(bogatyrs)
byliny
bogatyrs
Solovei Raz-boinik,
* There is some historical evidence to support Stasov’s thesis, however. Indian tales
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