Heartland Harmony
Heartland Harmony
Welcome to the Ember Online Class Portal!
The hearth-source for your self-paced home learning and practice of learning to sing traditional polyphonic music.
In this portal you'll find recordings, lyrics, and translations for all of our class material. This page is the lock and key for your personal learning journey, and will be the place you spend the bulk of your class time.
All students are welcome to join our live classes on Thursday evenings with an in-person choir of fellow learners to get the experience of group singing, but attendance is not necessary.
Music
zdravche venche
ergen deda
nedelya na drum
de sa e chulo
okro m'chedelo
shina vorgil
lem pero
oj wersze mij
mno hiyalita
alelealojla
english songs
zdravche venche
Zdravche Venche is a Bulgarian song synced with ritual traditions of the Summer Solstice. Zdravets, a very sacred flower in Slavic culture and known here as 'wild geranium', is often grown around the door in Balkan homes, and carried to friends and neighbors as a blessing for visits. I learned this song from Dessi Stefanova, director of the London Bulgarian Choir, who described the ritual of young people rising at dawn on the Summer Solstice to go out into the meadows and harvest Zdravets to make garlands for their heads. This song would be sung at that time, in this simple call and response format conducive to walking in a group.
lyrics and translation
Zdravche venche / lyan more lyan more lyan
Tsvete mirizlivo / lyan more karamfilo lyo
Slavei pile / lyan more lyan more lyan
Rano e zapyalo / lyan more karamfilo lyo
Peeh, peeh / lyan more lyan more lyan
Sal devoyki budi / lyan more karamfilo lyo
Aide momi / lyan more lyan more lyan
Momi i ergeni / lyan more karamfilo lyo
Da ideme / lyan more lyan more lyan
Tsvete da bereme / lyan more karamfilo lyo
Rosna kitka / lyan more lyan more lyan
Ventsi da vieme / lyan more karamfilo lyo
Geranium, fragrant flower.
The nightingale started singing early
He sang and sang to wake up the maidens.
“Come on maidens, and young men. Let’s go to pick the
flowers, the fresh herbs, to make the garlands!”
ergen deda
A popular Bulgarian folk song from the Shoppe region, famously arranged by Philip Koutev. The song is about some young women making fun of an older man who is being sleezy toward them at a community dance. Each thing he does, they make fun of him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4iFF79zBJQ
Watch the women from Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares sing this song. Observe their faces, demeanor, mouth shape. Listen to their quality of sound, the ornaments, how vowels are shaped
lyrics and translation
Ergen deda, cherven deda
ey taka, pa taka
nakrivile kalpacheto
ey taka, pa taka (x2)
Ergen deda, cherven deda
ey taka, dom takatakata pataka
Nakrivile kalpacheto
ey taka, pa taka
nanagore-nanadole
ey taka, pa taka (x2)
Nanagore-nanadole
ey taka, pa taka
pa otide u seloto
ey taka, pa taka
Pa otide u seloto
ey taka, pa taka
pa se hvana na 'oroto
ey taka, pa taka
Pa se hvana na 'oroto
ey taka, dom takatakata pataka dom
dom, dom, dom, dom, ey taka
dom takatakata dom
Pa se hvana na 'oroto
ey taka, pa taka
na 'oroto do momite
ey taka, pa taka (x2)
Pa se hvana na 'oroto
ey taka, dom takatakata pataka
Na 'oroto do momite
ey taka, pa taka
svite momi pobegali
ey taka, pa taka (x2)
Svite momi pobegali
ey taka, pa taka
ostanala nay-malata
ey taka, pa taka
Ostanala nay-malata
ey taka, pa taka
nay-malata Angelina
ey taka, pa taka
Ostanala nay-malata
ey taka, dom takatakata pataka dom
dom, dom, dom, dom, ey taka
dom takatakata dom
Unmarried old man, red-faced old man,
Just like this, just like that,
Has put his cap askew,
Just like this, just like that,
Has put his cap askew,
Just like this, just like that,
To the one side, to the other side (of his head)
Just like this, just like that,
To the one side, to the other side,
Just like this, just like that,
And went to the village,
Just like this, just like that,
And went to the village,
Just like this, just like that,
And took place in the ring dance,
Just like this, just like that.
E-e-e-eh
Just like this, just like that
And took place in the ring dance,
Just like this, just like that,
In the ring dance among the young girls,
Just like this, just like that.
In the ring dance among the young girls,
Just like this, just like that,
All the young girls have run away,
Just like this, just like that.
All the young girls have run away,
Just like this, just like that,
Only the youngest has stayed,
Just like this, just like that.
Only the youngest has stayed,
Just like this, just like that,
The youngest, called Angelina,
Just like this, just like that.
E-e-e-eh
Just like this, just like that
Nedelya na drum
Nedelya na drum is a traditional diaphonic or two-voice song from the Shoppe region of Bulgaria. It is a class drone-with-a-melody song that gives us a chance to practice some vocal wobbles and other traditional singing styles. I learned this song in Bulgaria from Pepa Koucheva, who helped found the Plovdiv Folk Academy.
lyrics and translation
Nedelya na drum zhanala
Nedelio.......mome Nedelio
Do plande zhana I peya
Nedelio.....Mome Nedelio
Ot Pladne zhana I plaka
Nedelio......mome Nedelio
Nedelya harvested wheat
Nedelya..... young/little Nedelya
In the morning, she harvested and sang
Nedelya..... young/little Nedelya
By afternoon, she was harvesting and crying
Nedelya...... young/little Nedelya
de sa e chulo
De sa e chulo is a song from the Rhodope mountains of Bulgaria. Rhodope music is known for its intricate ornamentation, especially in solo singing. The Rhodope mountains are 'small and round' at least compared to some other ranges in the wider Balkans region. Bulgarian singers say people from the Rhodope's are more shy and delicate, like the mountains, and that's why their singing sounds the way it does. This song, which would have been originally sung as a solo, is an adaptation of an arrangement by the Bulgarka Quartet, a professional group of Bulgarian women singers.
lyrics and translation
De sa e chulo videlo mari,
Chorna zemya bez voda.
Na edno mesto imashe mari,
I nego moma chuvashe.
Cheshka za alton davashe mari,
рomina ludo i mlado.
Toi na moma na dumashe mari,
рodai mi mome voditsa.
Podai mi mome voditsa mari,
(sas tvoi) na desna rŭchitsa.
Che sam te voda zazhadnel mari,
I sam za tebe zablagnel.
Maybe you heard or saw,
That there was black earth without water.
But at one place there was (water),
And that place was run by a young girl.
She sold one cup for an 'alton'
To a passing young man.
He said to the girl:
Give me, girl, water.
Give me, girl, water
In your right hand.
I am very thirsty,
I am falling in love with you.
Okro m'chedelo
Okro m'chedelo is a Svaneti folk song from Georgia.
lyrics and translation
1. Okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo (2x)
chit'is nali mip'ovnia, okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo
erti bari gamik'ete, okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo
Hoda, ho... oha-i-ralo, ha...ri, hara-lo, haralo (2x)
2. Okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo (2x)
Rats rom imas gadarcheba, okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo
Erti tokhi gamik’ete, okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo
Hoda, ho... oha-i-ralo, ha...ri, hara-lo, haralo (2x)
3.Okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo (2x)
Rats rom imas gadarcheba, okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo
Erti tsuli gamik’ete okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo
Hoda, ho... oha-i-ralo, ha...ri, hara-lo, haralo (2x)
4. Okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo (2x)
Rats rom imas gadarcheba, okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo
Erti dana gamik’ete, okro mch'edelo, mch'edelo
Hoda, ho... oha-i-ralo, ha...ri, hara-lo, haralo (2x)
Goldsmith, goldsmith,
Goldsmith, goldsmith!
I’ve found a bird’s shoe, - goldsmith, goldsmith... -
Make me a shovel! - goldsmith, goldsmith... -
And with what’s left, Make me a hoe!
And with what’s left, Make me a spade!
And with what’s left, Make me a knife!
shina vorgil
A Georgian nonsense dance / celebration song. Recording is from Village Harmony in Vermont.
Shina waragili waragili woisah wo, shina wargege.
Waragili, waragili, waragili woisah wo, shina wargege.
Woisahrera woisa worida wo, woisa woisa rera.
Lem pero
This is a song from the Shoppe region of Bulgaria, known for its driving, strident 2-voice singing style. This arrangement is a hybrid between the original village-style version of the song, and an arrangement by the Bulgarka Quartet, a group of four lovely singers Annie studied with in Bulgaria in 2019. You'll find 3 of their four parts, with some altered village-style tunes and lyrics.
Na kogo se driamka dreme da se nenadreme?
Lempero lempempero, gizdava devoiko le-le, moe libe Jano
Na Rada se driamka dreme da se ne nadreme.
Lempero lempempero, gizdava devoiko le-le, moe libe Jano.
Sha i prati dvama, trima, da i churulikat
Lempero lempempero, gizdava devoiko le-le, moe libe Jano.
Ne sa bili dva ma trima, da i churulikat
Lempero lempempero, gizdava devoiko le-le, moe libe Jano.
Nai otishal mlad Nikola da i churulikat.
Lempero lempempero, gizdava devoiko le-le, moe libe Jano.
Who is that, who sleeps
and still does not have enough sleep?
Lempero, lempempero, beautiful girl, my dear Jano.
It is Rada who sleeps
and still does not have enough sleep?
Lempero, lemрempero, beautiful girl, my dear Jano.
Two or three people went
to talk to her. Lempero…
They have not succeeded to keep her awake.
Lempero… Then young Nikola went
To talk to her. Lempero…
oj wersze mij wersze
A well known and beloved Lemko song. Learn more about the Lemko here!
Oj wersze, mij wersze,
Mij zełenyj wersze,
Już mi tak ne bude,
Już mi tak ne bude,
Jak mi było persze.
Już mi tak ne bude,
Już mi tak ne bude,
Jak mi było persze.
Bo persze mi było,
Barz mi dobri było,
Odz mojej mamyczky,
Odz mojej mamyczky,
Ne chodyty było.
Odz mojej mamyczky,
Odz mojej mamyczky,
Ne chodyty było,
Ne chodyty było.
Kady-m ja chodyła,
Ne lubyty było,
Ne lubyty było.
Koho-m polubyła.
Ne lubyty było,
Ne lubyty było,
Koho-m polubyla
Oh, mountains, my mountains,
My dear green mountains,
Life has changed for me
Life has changed for me
It's not as used to be.
Life has changed for me
Life has changed for me
It's not as used to be.
Good it used to be,
Oh, so good for me,
Why would I roam,
Why would I roam,
From my mommy's home.
Why would I roam,
Why would I roam,
From my mommy's home,
From my mommy's home.
And where I did roam,
I shouldn't have loved,
I shouldn't have loved.
The one that I loved,
I shouldn't have loved,
I shouldn't have loved,
The one that I loved
Mno Hiyalita
A Ukrainian song traditionally sung for various celebration purposes. The words translate to "many years".
Alelealojla
A Sami (northern European) joik, or traditional folk song, for singing while working or walking & skiing up and down the hills.
Alelealojla, alelealojla...
White dove
White Dove is an American / Appalachian folk song originally recorded by the Stanley Brothers. This is an arrangement learned with Village Harmony of Vermont.
Solo: In the deep rolling hills of old Virginia
There's a place that I love so well
Where I spent many days of my childhood
In the cabin where we loved to dwell
Chorus:
White dove will mourn in sorrow
The willows will hang their heads
I'll live my life in sorrow
Since mother and daddy are dead
Duet: We were all so happy there together
In our peaceful little mountain home
But the Savior needs angels up in heaven
Now they sing around the great white throne
Gents: As the years roll by I often wonder
If we will all be together someday
And each night as I wander through the graveyard
Darkness finds me as I kneel to pray
Full Moon Outside My Window
This is a 4-part English polyphonic round written by Chandler Yorkhall.
Full moon outside my window this cold September night
Pulls me into wakefulness far too early
I'd rather be sleeping the day's already too long for me
I'll just wait for dawn.
Wild Away
The sun has settled down to bed
The day knee-deep in nettles now,
I'm wild away.
Go round, go round
This song originates from the Japanese folktale, Princess Kaguya and is here as heard in the Studio Ghibli Film production of this story. Music originally by Isao Takahata and Riko Sakaguchi.
Go round, go round, waterwheel go round -
Go round and call up the sun.
Birds, Bugs, Beasts, Grass, Flowers, and Trees
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, bring em' all on.
(x2)
Flower bear fruit, bear fruit and die.
Be born, grow up and die.
Still the wind blows and the rain falls - the waterwheel goes round.
Lifetimes come and go in turn, come and go in turn.
Life times come and go in turn,
Over and over life revives
Over and over life renews.
What Goes Around
What goes around comes round again,
Comes round again, that we might mend.
most beautiful sky
Most Beautiful Sky was originally a haiku by Jennifer Levenhagen, an artist and musician in Milwaukee.
O Light Abide
O light abide with us,
for it is now the evening.
The day is passed and over.