Stenka Razin (Volga Volga ) Russian Red Army Choir

Old Russian Ballad “Stenka Razin“ has the distinction of being the first Russian dramatic silent film production — a tribute to the determination of its producer, Aleksandr Drankov. When his first seventeen actualities failed to win serious attention in early 1908, he answered the widespread call for Russian-made films with Stenka Razin. This account of the popular brigand leader who dallied with a captured Persian princess was adapted from a traditional ballad “From the Island to the Deep Stream“ and Drankov commissioned original music to accompany his film from no less than Ippolitov-lvanov, then head of the Moscow Conservatoire. Energetic promotion ensured the film’s commercial success and launched Drankov’s career as a producer. The Ballad of Stenka Razin From beyond the wooded island To the river wide and free Proudly sailed the arrow-breasted Ships of Cossack yeomanry. On the first is Stenka Razin With his princess by his side Drunken holds in marriage revels With his beauteous young bride From behind there comes a murmur “He has left his sword to woo; One short night and Stenka Razin Has become a woman, too.“ Stenka Razin hears the murmur Of his discontented band And his lovely Persian princess He has circled with his hand. His dark brows are drawn together As the waves of anger rise; And the blood comes rushing swiftly To his piercing jet black eyes “I will give you all you ask for Head and heart and life and hand.“ And his voice rolls out like thunder Out across the distant land. Volga, Volga, Mother Volga Wide and deep beneath the sun, You have never seen such a present From the Cossacks of the Don. So that peace may reign forever In this band so free and brave Volga, Volga, Mother Volga Make this lovely girl a grave. Now, with one swift mighty motion He has raised his bride on high And has cast her where the waters Of the Volga roll and sigh. “Dance, you fools, and let’s be merry What is this that’s in your eyes? Let us thunder out a chanty To the place where beauty lies.“ From beyond the wooded island To the river wide and free Proudly sailed the arrow-breasted Ships of Cossack yeomanry. Stepan (Sten’ka) Timofeyevich Razin (Russian: Степан (Стенька) Тимофеевич Разин, 1630 -- June 16 [O.S. June 6] 1671) was a Cossack leader who led a major uprising against the nobility and Tsar’s bureaucracy in South Russia. In 1671 he and his brother Frol Razin were captured at Kaganlyk, his last fortress, and carried to Moscow, where, after tortures, Stepan was quartered alive in the Bolotnaya Square. However, the rebellion did not end with Razin’s death. The rebels in Astrakhan held out until November 26, 1671, when Prince Ivan Miloslavsky restored government control.