Tunes For Tuesday – Russian Army Choir “Полюшко поле” (Meadowlands)
A sample of some obscure – and some maybe not obscure – tunes from my strange and off-the-wall collection.
Today’s selection: Russian Army Choir – Полюшко поле (aka Song of the Plains; Meadowlands)
Can’t really say I’m a Russophile but I don’t think of Russians as my enemy either – in spite of spending my childhood huddling under my desk to aid in identifying my burnt remains save me from Soviet nuclear attack. It’s a place I’d like to visit, at least St Petersburg.
Way back when … I was in 8th grade … Vietnam raging and the Soviet Union evil incarnate … I had a social studies teacher (a WWII vet) who told us that in our lifetimes, there would be a good chance that we’d see the US turn into a police state and Russia become the land of freedom. About the only thing I directly remember about 8th grade …
While that teacher has not yet been proven correct – or incorrect, I can’t say I’ve seen anything recently to disavow me from the notion that both countries seem to be on that path.
I’d much rather the US was “friends” with Russia than some of those we (supposedly) are friends with – say China and Saudi Arabia.
Way back when … I was in 8th grade … Vietnam raging and the Soviet Union evil incarnate … I had a social studies teacher (a WWII vet) who told us that in our lifetimes, there would be a good chance that we’d see the US turn into a police state and Russia become the land of freedom. About the only thing I directly remember about 8th grade …
That paragraph gave me goose bumps. To me, it seems a real possibility
and I can perfectly understand why you would remember it.
Have you ever had a chance to read Mike Austin’s autobiography on his
website, (mikeaustin.org)? He used to post on Gerard’s often. Haven’t seen his name in a long time. I think he may be on a three year trip with his dog.
Mike got another dog? He told me his squeeze at the time left and took their mutt, named Joisey, with her. I told him to get another one but never heard that he did. He’s a very inneresting dood.
Yes, to interesting. One could spend many hours reading his words. I think he wrote on his blog that he was taking a trip with his dog, Marvel. https://mikeaustin.org
As I’ve aged, thought about my parent’s thoughts, and examined the history of WW2, I realize my parents were a little uncomfortable about what they endured, and how society was changing. While movies glorified much of WW2, there was an ugly underground of events leading to the conflict, and those that were living during that time had a much different understanding of what was happening. A suspicious person might think it was all in an effort to lead us to where we are.
“A suspiciolus person might think…”
I recommend Diana West’s American Betrayal for those who wonder if they’re insufficiently suspicious.
The Russian music piece is really interesting. Sounds like Cossacks galloping across the plains. Thanks for that. Love it. It led me to read for hours this evening about Russian and Ukrainian Cossacks and their role in the two world wars.
It also made me think of a Cossack I knew who had come to the Midwest to train horses. He was spotted, riding a horse, in Germany in the midst of bombed out rubble, after WW2 by an American officer from a very wealthy American family. This officer sponsored him and brought him to the Midwest to train his horses. The Cossack’s father was a famous Ukrainian patriot and his grandfather had been in the czar’s imperial army.
The man was a magician with horses. His daughter went on to ride successfully for the US and then became an international judge.
There were many ex military, usually aristocrat, Eastern Europeans who were displaced persons after the war. They came to America and Canada and populated the horse industry. The US Olympic trainer for many years was Bert de Nemerthy from Hungary. I was fortunate enough to be around some of these people for a while. When they had occasions to get together it was like being transported back in time to another century. Their manners and mannerisms were so different. Very formal and gallant.
Anyway, thanks again DT for the music. Took me back many years to a happy and interesting time in my youth.
I’ve had the pleasant opportunity over the years to learn to speak and read a little Russian, meet some Russians in personal and professional settings, got the opportunity to travel to Russia one time after 1990, and read a little Pushkin in Russian. I’ve tried to read Dostoevsky but he’s too intense for me. I really like all the Russian classical music.
I liked all the Russians I met. They seemed nice enough on a personal level. I think the cultural distance between Americans and Russians may be too wide for true lasting friendship between our peoples. The divide causes frictions and misunderstandings. It would be nice if we could cooperate more.
I have a hard time with Полюшко Поле. It’s a nice enough song, evocative of something Russian, but I can’t get past that it was Soviet. I despise all things commie/socialist/tyrannical with the blazing heat of a thousand blue-white stars. That evil demon Stalin used Russian patriotism to keep himself in power. May he reside in the nethermost circle of Hell where Satan chews his bones with that of Judas Iscariot for all eternity.
I prefer the Russian Orthodox Church music.
Hi John
I don’t disagree with you; as you say, the song is a nice one. However, if I let the politics of a song (excepting lyrics) or writer get in the way, there is plenty of American music I’d have to put aside as well. I like much of Jefferson Airplane; I despise Grace Slick’s political views (or Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Roger Waters, etc) for that matter.
I’ve no problem with the Russian people – no, I doubt we can be bosom-buddies, but neighbors that can say “Hi” to each other as we go along our separate ways perhaps. Our cultures are deeply different … but not as different as those of the Chinese or Saudis.