Tuesday Tunes

I used to sing while stacking bananas. It wasn’t some sort of weird cult thing, although I could totally see that happening. My first proper after-school job was in the produce section of a supermarket. The music over the speaker system was just one CD - reportedly made by head office - on repeat, ad nauseam. I have no real idea how often the CD’s were switched out, but I seem to recall hearing Christmas songs from late October into early March, which partially explains my intense dislike for songs out of season. So, to make my own fun, I used to sing to myself while stacking the fruits and vegetables and working out the back cutting up pumpkin. Without accompaniment, much like today’s song …

The Song(s)
Song: Thin Rowan (Acapella)
Artist: Zapevaika
Album: Songs With Accordian and Acapellas Part 3 - 2013 - GMC
Method of discovery: via Reddit

Theory: Many terms used in modern western music notation are based in the Italian language, although my favourite (anacrusis) comes from Greek. The word “Acapella” in the song title is a contraction of ‘a cappella’, which is Italian for ‘in the manner of the chapel’; the term was meant to differentiate the music of worship from the music of entertainment. In time it’s come to be known simply as unaccompanied vocal music.

Research: You can find many different versions of this traditional Russian folk song online, under many names too: “A Thin Mountain Ash”, “Slender Rowan”, “Rowan”, plus all the ones in actual Russian Text. The two female vocals are reminiscent of the Flower Duet from Lakme (trust me, you’ll know it). I can’t find much on Zapevaika except this collection of songs again and again, which makes me think this was a record company putting out a collection of Public Domain works. But I can’t find much to verify it, as GMC is the name of a heavy metal record label in Korea, a music school in Hong Kong, a Record label in Rwanda, and many things unrelated to music. I chose this version because I feel like it embodies the lyrics the best …

Personal thoughts: The Rowan is singing, gazing over a river at an Oak that she loves, but ultimately knowing she can never move to be beside him. It’s an extremely familiar tale of unattainable, or even forbidden love. In some versions the river is a road. In others the Oak loves her back. But just like the song, they can never be together, and it’s heartbreaking.

Give it a go: if you like trees

Give it a miss: Если ты провалил русский класс.

[links]
Spotify: Tuesday Tunes, Thin Rowan by Zapevaika
Research: A Capella on Wikipedia, English Lyrics by John Woodsmith
Other: Flower Duet - Anna Netrebko & Elina Garanca (Lakme De Delibes)