Texts and Translations for Alexander Nevsky Cantata

[Tony]

Texts and Translations

 

2. Pesnya ob Aleksandre Nevskom

2. Song about Alexander Nevsky

A, i bïlo delo na Nevye rekye na nevye rekye, na bol’shoy vodye, Tam rubili mï zloye voinstvo, zoye voinstvo, voysko shvedskoye, Ukh, kak bilis’ mï, kak rubilis’ mï! Ukh! Rubili korabli po dostochkam, Nashu krov’-rudu nye zhaleli mï za velikuyu zemlyu russkuyu. Gde proshol topor, bïla ulitsa, gde letelo kop’yo, - pereulochek. Polozhili mï shvedov, nemchikov, kak kovïl-travu, na sukhoy zemlye. Ne ustupim mï zemlyu russkuyu. Kto pridyot na Rus’ budet na smert’ bit. Podnyalasya Rus’ suprotiv vraga; podnimis’ na boy, slavnïy Novgorod!

Yes, it happened on the River Neva, on the River Neva, on the watery expanses. There we slew our foes, the Swedish forces. Oh, how we fought them, how we routed them! Oh! We smashed their ships into kindling, and we didn’t spare our life’s blood. The swing of our axes carved streets and the flight of our spears forged lanes. We mowed down the invading Swedes like feather grass on arid soil.   We will not yield our Russian land. Whoever marches on Russia will be mortally defeated. Russia has risen up against its enemy; rise to the fight; glorious Novgorod!

 

 

3. Krestonostsï vo Pskovye	The Crusaders in Pskov
Peregrinus, expectavi, pedes meos in cymbalis.	*(See program notes for explanation.)

 

4. Vstavaytye, lyudi russkie

Arise, ye Russian people

Vstavaytye, lyudi russkie, na slavnïy boy, na smertnïy boy. Vstavaytye, lyudi vol’nïye za nashu zemlyu chestnuyu! Zhivim boytsam pochot i chest’ a myortvim slava vechnaya, Za otchiy dom, za russkij kray, vstavaytye, lyudi russkie. Vstavaytye, lyudi russkie, na slavnïy boy, na smertnïy boy, Vstavaytye, lyudi vol’nïye za nashu zemlyu chestnuyu! Na Rusi rodnoy, na Rusi bol’shoy ne bïvat’ vragu. Podnimaysya, vstan’, mat’ rodnaya Rus’! Na Rusi rodnoy, na Rusi bol’shoy nye bïvat’ vragu. Podnimaysya, vstan’, mat’ rodnaya Rus! Vstavayte, lyudu russkie, na smertnïy boy, na smertnïy boy. Vstavaytye, lyudi vol’nïye za nashu zemlyu chestnuyu! Vragam na Rus’ nye khazhivat’, polkov na Rus’ ne vidïvat’, poley Rusi na taptïvat’. Vstavaytye, lyudi russkiye, na slavnïy boy, na smertnïy boy, Vstavaytye, lyudi vol’nïye za nashu zemlyu chestnuyu!

Arise, ye Russian people, take arms in the glorious and mortal battle. Arise, ye free people for our sacred land! All honor and glory to our living warriors and eternal glory to the fallen! In the name of the paternal home and our Russian people, Arise, ye Russian people, take arms in the glorious and mortal battle. Arise, ye free people for our sacred land! In our native Russia, in our vast Russia let there be no enemy. Rise up, take up arms, our mother Russia! In our native Russia, in our vast Russia let there be no enemy. Arise, ye Russian people, take arms in the glorious and mortal battle.     Arise, ye free people, for our sacred land! No enemies shall march on Russia, they shall lead no regiments to Russia, they shall not see roads to Russia. Arise, ye Russian people, take arms in the glorious and mortal battle. Arise, ye free people, for our sacred land!

 

5. Ledovoye poboishche	The Battle on the Ice
Peregrinus, expectavi, pedes meos in cymbalis est! Vincant arma crucifera! Hostis pereat!	(Literally): As a foreigner, I expected my feet to be cymbal-shod. May the weapons of the cross-bearers conquer! May the enemy perish!

 

6. Myortvoye polye

The Field of Death

Ya poydu na polyu byelomu, polechu po polyu smyertnomu, poishchu ya slavnïkh molodtsev. Kto lezhit mechami porublennïy, napoilil oni krov’ya aloyu zemlyu chestnuyu, zemlyu russkuyu. Kto pogib za Rus’ smert’yu dobroyu, potseluyu tovo v ochi myortvïye, a tomu molodtsa, shto ostalsya zhit’ budu vernoy zhenoy, miloy ladoyu. Nye voz’mu v much’ya krasivovo, - krasota zemnaya konchayetsya, a poydu ya za khrabrovo. Otzovitesya, yasnï sokolï!

I shall cross the snow-white field, I shall fly over the field of death, I shall search out the valiant warriors, my betrothed, my fine fellows. Some lie hacked by swords, some lie pierced by an arrow, they have watered the sacred Russian land with their scarlet blood. Whoever died a noble death for Russia I shall kiss him on his lifeless eyes, I shall be a faithful wife and  loving companion of that fine lad who survived the battle. I shall not take the handsome one to be my husband, earthly beauty has its end, but I will wed the brave one,   Now answer me, bright-eyed falcons!

 

7. V’yezd Aleksandra vo Pskov

Alexander’s Entry into Pskov

Na velikiy boy vïkhodila Rus’; voroda pobedila Rus’. Na rodnoy zemlye ne bïvat’ vragu. Kto pridyot, budet na smert’ bit. Veselisya, poy, mat’ rodnaya Rus’! Na radnoy Rusi nye bïvat’ vragu, ne vidat’ vragu nashikh russkikh syol. Kto pridyot na Rus’, budet na smert’ bit, Nye vidat’ vragu nashikh russkikh syol. Kto pridyot na Rus’, budet na smert’ bit. Na Rusi rodnoy, na Rusi bol’shoy nye bïvat’ vragu! Veselisya, poy, mat’ rodnaya Rus’! Na veikiy prazdnik sobralasya Rus’. Veselisya, Rus’! Veselisya, Rus’, rodnaya mat’!

Russia went forth to a great battle; Russia defeated the foe. No enemy shall remain on Russian lands, Whoever invades will be mortally defeated. Rejoice and sing, mother Russia! No enemy shall remain on Russian lands, the enemy shall not see Russian villages. Whoever invades Russia will be mortally defeated.  The enemy shall not see our Russian villages. Whoever invades Russia will be mortally defeated. In our own Russia, in our vast Russia no enemy shall remain.  Rejoice and sing, mother Russia! For the grand festivities Russia has come together. Rejoice, Russia! Rejoice, mother Russia!