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Excelsior! [Single]

by Eternal Wanderers

supported by
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs)
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs) thumbnail
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs) Everyone who nowadays tries to cancel Russian culture out of an irrational hate should know that this is a very bad idea. The achievements of Russian writers and composers are an essential part of the world's heritage, and so is the fantastic music of this Russian symphonic rock band, represented here by a composition written by keyboardist Elena Kanevskaya. Of course, the Russian version is my favorite, since Russian is one of the most beautiful languages on the planet. Favorite track: Excelsior! [Russian version].
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1.
Excelsior! 08:14
The shades of night were falling fast, As through an Alpine village passed A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice, A banner with the strange device, Excelsior! His brow was sad; his eye beneath, Flashed like a falchion from its sheath, And like a silver clarion rung The accents of that unknown tongue, Excelsior! In happy homes he saw the light Of household fires gleam warm and bright; Above, the spectral glaciers shone, And from his lips escaped a groan, Excelsior! "Try not the Pass!" the old man said; "Dark lowers the tempest overhead, The roaring torrent is deep and wide!" And loud that clarion voice replied, Excelsior! "Oh stay," the maiden said, "and rest Thy weary head upon this breast! " A tear stood in his bright blue eye, But still he answered, with a sigh, Excelsior! "Beware the pine-tree's withered branch! Beware the awful avalanche!" This was the peasant's last Good-night, A voice replied, far up the height, Excelsior! At break of day, as heavenward The pious monks of Saint Bernard Uttered the oft-repeated prayer, A voice cried through the startled air, Excelsior! A traveller, by the faithful hound, Half-buried in the snow was found, Still grasping in his hand of ice That banner with the strange device, Excelsior! There in the twilight cold and gray, Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay, And from the sky, serene and far, A voice fell like a falling star, Excelsior!
2.
Крутою горною тропой Шел юноша в стране чужой, И нес он стяг, всё глядя ввысь, На стяге странный был девиз, Excelsior! Был грустен взор его и строг, Глаза сверкали как клинок, И как рожка прозрачный звон Звучал язык былых времен, Excelsior! В домах он видел свет огня, Что в очаге горел, маня, Но вечных льдов зов слышал он, И с губ его сорвался стон, Excelsior! «Смотри, суров тот перевал, Там власть стихий!» - старик сказал, «Ревет, срываясь вниз, поток!» Но был ответ, как звонкий рог, Excelsior! Звала дочь горца: «Отдохни, На грудь мне голову склони», Слеза блеснула на глазах, С глубоким вздохом он сказал: Excelsior! «Сухой сосны ты сторонись! Лавины страшной берегись!» ­- В сердцах крестьянин крикнул вслед. Донесся эхом лишь ответ, Excelsior! На Сен-Бернаре крест неся, С утра молитву вознося, Монахи смолкли вдруг на миг, Когда в их гимн ворвался крик, Excelsior! Под толщей снега погребен, Псом преданным был найден он. Рука сжимала стяг, застыв, И тот же был на нем призыв, Excelsior! Прекрасен, средь безмолвных скал, В покое вечном он лежал, А с неба, в мир камней и льда, Неслось, как падает звезда, Excelsior!

about

Written a long time ago, inspired by the marvelous Henry W. Longfellow's poem, the song 'Excelsior!' (the word is widely translated from Latin as 'higher, onward and upward') was arranged and recorded in August–December 2021 and mixed in 2022

credits

released March 19, 2022

Written and arranged by Elena Kanevskaya
Words by Henry W. Longfellow
Russian translation by Elena Kanevskaya

Performed by:
Elena Kanevskaya: vocal, keyboards, recorder, kalimba
Tatyana Kanevskaya: acoustic guitar
Mixed by Dmitry Shtatnov
Mastered by Fergal Davis
Illustration by Tatyana Kanevskaya
Produced by Elena Kanevskaya, Dmitry Shtatnov, Tatyana Kanevskaya

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Eternal Wanderers Mytishchi, Russia

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