Jacket Back.txt
H-72024
THE PENNYWISTLERS
Francine Brown, Shelley Cook, Joyce Gluck,
Alice Kogan, Deborah Lesser, Ethel Raim, Dina Silberman
Ruth Ben Zvi, tupan & tambourine
a cool day and crooked corn
Prince Marko of Prilep, who died in battle in 1394, is the hero of
countless Bulgarian and Yugoslav ballads and legends. He was a
mighty warrior, a fabulous drinker, a prodigious lover, but in one
of the ballads, he meets his match. Slighted by Marko's mother, an
indignant girl challenges him to a reaping contest. She prays, "God
give me crooked corn and a cool day." Her prayer is answered. She and
Marko start harvesting, fast as they can go. At the day's end, Marko
has cut 220 sheaves, the girl 330. White foam is on the girl's mouth,
but from Marko's comes black blood. With this song, girls encourage
each other as they toil in the fields under the hot Balkan sun.
-A. L. Lloyd
(from notes to Topic album "Folk Music of Bulgaria," 12T 107)
TO BE READ ONLY IF PHONOGRAPH IS BROKEN
The walls of my apartment are lined with records. There are records
piled on my desk, scattered under the table, stacked in the bathroom.
I have a lot of records. I even used a Connie Francis record once to
replace a broken window pane.
For the purpose of this exercise I will divide them into three major
classes. Not "good, bad, and indifferent"; not "folk, rock, and
classical"; but those with liner notes, those without liner notes, and
those with lyrics. Let me eliminate from consideration those with
lyrics and admit that I haven't read the notes from more than 10 of the
probably thousands of records at my home and at WBAI. I always read
Dylan's liner notes because they contain mystical punches in the belly
and shimmering raw jewels of meat. But most are made of phrases like
"music, music, music; a most important factor in any film," or "It was
a cold October night in 19 .... " or "A mood evocative of another time
is artfully achieved though the use of an echo chamber," or "Miss...
performs with equal adeptness in any musical genre from hard rock to Pure
Pop." Pure Pap!
You put a record on a turntable, you listen to it, you dance to it,
you relax and float downstream to it, but you don't read unless you are
bored with the record. Therefore no one will read these notes unless maybe
they are standing in a line at the cash register of a record store. When
the phonograph is on, it will be all you can do to catch your breath, let
alone read.
The Pennywhistlers always make me think of a too-short movie I saw in the
'50s. As I remember it, perhaps inaccurately, some cat in an African village
plays a few tentative notes on a pennywhistle and it is as though music were
just invented. His face lights up and he plays more. The music becomes more
and more ecstatic and the whole village falls apart in a wild orgy of joyous
running, dancing, and lovemaking. Their name alone does that to me. Their
singing -- some of it -- picks me up by the scruff of my D.N.A. molecules and
floats me in the.air as though I were a character in a Chagall painting. As
a matter of fact, much of it has the power to suspend gravity. Their singing
soars and floats like some troop of superhuman dancers, touching earth only
for an instant, just long enough to gather their muscles and spring up again.
There is a condition called synesthesia in which the senses become so
disoriented that colors can be heard, odors can be seen, etc. A very nice
place to visit maybe, but there are times when you want to see colors and hear
sounds. Reading what music is like is subjecting yourself to someone else's
synesthesia. There's no need for you to do that. You have the record. Listen
to it. BOB FASS
RECORDED & PROCESSED WITH DOLBY A-301 AUDIO NOISE REDUCTION SYSTEM
Produced by PETER K. SIEGEL
recording engineer DAVID B. JONES coordinator TERESA STERNE
cover art DONALD LEAKE cover design ELAINE M. GONGORA art director WILLIAM S. HARVEY
SIDE ONE
1. DUNAYETSKA VODA -- Polish (1:44)
A trio of songs from the Tatra Mountains
(Arr. traditional)
1. The beautiful Dunayets maiden walks down into the valley. "I'm going
to sing to myself into the depths of the valley. You will hear me but
you will not know me."
2. The little flowers fall slowly over me. I will not be good for Johnny.
I have no luck with my lover.
3. The reeds have overgrown and are flooded by water. Hey, Johnny, when
did you pave the road to good fortune?
1. Dunayets, Dunayets, Dunayetska voda
Idye na doline guralsko uroda
Gdye ya se zaspivam v glushe dolinovo
Uslishish mnye khlopche ale mnye
nye poznash
2. Nye be de nye be de dla Yanltska dobra
Tresinechka drobno drobno oblechala
Ya se z kokhanachkem nye udobrovalam
3. Hey, zarosli vodnitski zavoleva voda
Hey, Yanitsku zbuynitsku ale z chebye zbuynik
Hey, kyedish se virobal do losova khoclnik
2. IZ DOLU -- Macedonian (2:52)
(Arr. traditional)
A young maiden walks by, fair and rosy, tall and thin. She glides
along exchanging glances with me, her eyes dark as cherries. Oh,
mother, old mother, why have you kept us apart?
Iz dolu ide edno nevestentse
Belo, belo, male, belo ta tsurveno
Tunko, tunko, male, tunko ta visoko
Oi kato odi na zemya ne stupva
Glava ne navezhda mene si poglezhda
Mene si poglezhda s tsurnite ochi
S tsurnite ochi cherni chereshovi
S vitite vezhdi ibrishim gaitani
Oi male, male, stara le male
Shto ti me male ot nego razdeli
Ot nego razdeli tseli tri nedeli
3. VIDO, VIDO, BYALA VIDO -- Bulgarian (2:36)
Words and music by M. Kouteva
(Arr. by P. Koutev)
"Vida, my daughter, they are playing a dance tune. Get dressed up and
join them so that you may blossom among the girls like a flower and
shine at the boys like the sun." "How can I dress gaily, mother, and
dance while my sweetheart is away at war?"
Vido, Vido, byala Vido
Maika Vida sitno plela
Maika Vida sitno plela
Sitno plela pa uchila
Shterko Vido, byala Vido
Svirki sviryat na khoroto
Nagizdi se ulovi se
Leko stupvai sitno tropai
Da mi tsufnesh fsred momite
Kato ruzha vuv gradina
Da mi greinesh na momtsite
Kato v nebe yasno sluntse
Vida maika tikhom duma
Male, male, milna male
Kak da gizdya tunka snaga
Kak da tropam sitno khoro
Libe mi e sus druzhina
V gusta gora sto/ovata
Vuv rutse mu tunka pushka
Na surtse mu byala Vida
Sluntse greye libe duma
Vida gleda mene chaka
Rosa rosi libe duma
Vida plache mene zhali
4. BRE PETRUNKO -- Bulgarian (1:05)
(Arr. by Koutev)
Lovely Petruna is leading the dance. A young bumpkin, thinking to
court her, gets into the line right next to her. In his eagerness
to impress her, he dances so wildly, he knocks over her bouquet and
covers her feet with mud.
Bre Petrunko mori, malai mo
Bre Petrunko, malai mome
Fse yodime, mori, yobido
Fse yodime, yobidome
Nigde yoro, mori, ne naido
Nigde yoro ne naidome
V vashe selo, mori, dot tri yo
V vashe selo dot tri yora
Purvo yoro, mori, Petrunki
Purvo yoro Petrunkino
Petrunchitsa, mori yoro vo
Petrunchitsa yoro vodi
Yozdol ide, mori, ludo-mla
Yozdol ide ludo-mlado
Ne se fana, mori, na sreda
Ne se fana na sredata
Nai se fana, mori, na tane
Nai se fana na tanetso
Na tanetso, mori, do Petrun
Na tanetso do Petrunka
S perchiko si, mori, kitka ro
S perchiko si, kitka toni
S nodze si i, mori, chekhli ka
S nodze si i chekhli kalya
5. COLOURS (2:51)
Words and music by Donovan (Southern Music, ASCAP)
(Arr. by E. Raim)
Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair,
In the morning when we rise,
In the morning when we rise,
That's the time, that's the time,
I love the best.
Blue is the colour of the sky,
In the morning when we rise,
In the morning when we rise,
That's the time, that's the time,
I love the best.
Green is the coiour of the sparkling corn,
In the morning when we rise,
In the morning when we rise,
That's the time, that's the time,
I love the best.
Mellow is the feeling that I get,
When I see him -mm- hm
When I see him -mm- hm
That's the time, that's the time,
I love the best.
Freedom is a word I rarely use,
Without thinking -mm- hm
Without thinking -mm- hm
Of the time, of the time,
When I've been low.
6. SHOL MILl DAROZHKAI -- Russian (2:32)
(Arr. by Piatnitsky Chorus)
My beloved walked down the road. I ran after him, calling his name.
But he did not hear me. I waved my kerchief, but lie did not see me.
Oh, my beloved, why has your love faded so soon? Why have you left me?
Shol mili okhi daroi . . . darozhkai
Darozhkai mili stalbavoi
Darozhkai mili staibavoi
A ya za nim dyevitsa
Slyidochkam za nim byizhala
Slyidochkam za nim byizhala
Slyidochkam ya byizhala
Ya golasam yimu krichu
Ya golasam yimu krichu
Golas moi on nye slishal
Platochkam ya yimu mashu
Platochkam ya yimu mashu
Aiyenki moi tsvetochek
Zachem zhe ti rana apal
Zachem zhe ti rana apal
Milyenki moi druzhochek
Zachem zhe lyubit perestal
7. MAIN RUE PLATZ -- Yiddish (2:06)
Words by Morris Rosenfeld (Arr. by E. Raim)
Don't look for me where fields are green, where birds sing or
fountains spray. You will not find me there, my love. Where
lives are wasting at the machine, where chains clang and teeth
gnash and tears fall -- there is my resting place. So, come to
me, my beloved, and with your tender love lift this burden from
my heart.
Nit zukh mikh vu di mirtn grinen
Gefinst mikh dortn nit main shatz
Vu lebns velkn bai mashinen
Dortn iz main rue platz
Nit zukh mikh vu di feigl zingen
Gefinst mikh dortn nit main shatz
A shklaf bin ikh vu keitn klingen
Dortn iz main rue platz
Nit zukh mikh vu fontanen shpritzn
Gefinst mikh dortn nit main shatz
Vu trern rinen tzeiner kritzn
Dortn iz main rue platz
Un libstu mikh mit varer libe
To, kum tzu mir, main guter shatz
Un baiter oif main hartz dos tribe
Un makh mir zis main rue platz
SIDE TWO
1. VRLICKO KOLO -- Dalmatian (3:34)
(Arr. by Z. Ljevakovic)
This is a dance usually performed without any musical accompaniment,
the rhythm beaten by the steps of the dancers. It is a song in praise
of the heroic Dalmatians who courageously defended their villages.
Mi smo rekle zapjevati ode
Bilo veche bilo usrid podne
Mi smo seke skupa vojovale
A za jednim obe tugovale
Dolmatinci hrabri ste vojnici
Hrabro ste se borili u lici
2. DVE NEVESTI -- Bulgarian (1:52)
From Elin Pelin village, Sofia district
Two young brides are dancing the horo. A young girl steps between them
and asks how it feels to be married. "Try it and see for yourself,"
they reply.
E dye nevesti oro vodat
Doz doz done le done libe moe
Em go vodat em go kurshat
Doz doz. . .
E pa gi tiom popituva
Doz doz . . .
E arno li e venchiloto
Doz doz. . .
E a nevesti otgovaryat
Doz doz. . .
E ozheni se tada vidish
Doz doz . . .
3. BRIGHT MORNING STARS (2:09)
An American hymn learned from Tony and Irene Saletan
Bright morning stars are rising
Day is a'breaking in my soul.
Oh, where are our dear fathers
Day is a'breaking in my soul.
Some have gone to heaven shouting
Day is...
Some are down in the valley praying
Day...
4. ZA LYESAM- Russian (2:45)
(Arr. traditional)
Beyond the forest, beyond the quickly flowing river, there is a little
stream of clear, fresh water. There we used to walk, my beloved and I,
in the Spring. Now the path is overgrown with weeds. And the lonely
poplar tree, where we said our last goodbye, still stands.
Za lyesam za roshchei
V zyelyonam sadu, okh
Za ryechkai za bistrai
Na tom byeregu
Za ryechkai za bistrai
Na tom byeregu, okh
Tam yest ruchiyochlk
S klyuchivoi vadoi
Tam yest ruchiyochik
S klyuchivoi vadoi, okh
Tam-ta mi gulyali
S milyenkim vyesnoi
Tam-ta mi gulyali
S milyenkim vyesnoi, okh
Tam tipyer trapinka
Zarasla travoi
Tam tipyer trapinka
Zarasla travoi, okh
U gorkai asyinki
Mi rastalis s taboi
5. SHTOI-TA ZVON -- Russian (1:32)
(Arr. by Piatnitsky Chorus)
"Why are the bells ringing, Vania? Why is the whole town talking about
us? .... Let them talk, they will soon stop. Let us live together and
love one another and when we tire of each other, we will part with no
regrets".
Shtoi-ta zvon, da, shtoi-ta zvon
Na nashei kalakolnye
Ni pra nas li, druk, Vanyusha
Fsyo bayut gutaryut
Ni pra nas li, druk, Vanyusha
Fsyo bayut gutaryut
Puskai bayut gutaryut
Avos pyeristanut
Puskai bayut gutaryut
Avos pyeristanut
A mi s taboi, druk, Vanyusha
V lyubvi nazhivyomsya
A mi s taboi, druk, Vanyusha
V lyubvi nazhivyomsya
V lyubvi, v lyubvi nazhivyomsya
Da vnof razaidyomsya
V lyubvi, v iyubvi nazhivyomsya
Da vnof razaidyomsya
Ni ti ka mnye, ni ya k tibye
Ni budyim v abidye
Ni ti ka mnye, ni yak tibye
Ni budyim v abidye
Ni ti minya, ni ya tibya
Ni budyim lyubiti
Ni ti minya, ni ya tibya
Ni budyim lyubiti
Kharasho bila fstrichatsya
Pad byelai beryozai
Kharasho bila fstrichatsya
Pad byelai beryozai
Bila gorka rastavatsya
Pad gorkai asyinkai
6. DARAGOI DA, DARAGOI -- Russian (2:52)
(Art. by Fyodorov Sisters)
Oh, my sweetheart, do not tell me we are through. Geese and swans are
flying, while I sit and weep below. By the window I sit, embroidering
a kerchief. Glancing all around me, I search for the place where my
dear one hides. I will put on a snowy white dress and become a swan.
I'll fly to that far-off place where my true love has gone.
Daragoi da, daragoi
Ni dyelai izmyenushki
Shtobi sertse, okh, ni bolyela
U minya, u dyevushki
Gusi, lyebedi krilati
Vi ni v chore ni vinavati
Vi lityeli kryakali
Mi s padrushkai plakali
Pad akoshkam ya sidyela
Vishivala ya platok
Vsyo v tu storanu glyadyela
Kuda skrilsa rnoi druzhok
Ya nadyenu byela platye
Stanu lyebidinachka
Palyechu ya v tu staronku
Gdye moi yagadinachka
Very special thanks to Larisa Velichansky and Ronaid Wixman for their
help in transcribing and translating several of the song texts.
THIS STEREOPHONIC RECORD CAN BE PLAYED ON ANY MODERN MONO PHONOGRAPH
EQUIPPED WITH A LIGHTWEIGHT TONE ARM AND DIAMOND STYLUS
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