Pribaoutki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pribaoutki (Russian: Прибаутки) is a cycle of four songs composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1914 to Russian texts by Alexander Afanasyev. Its Russian title has no direct English equivalent, although Richard Taruskin suggests "nonsense rhymes" or "jingles."[1] (The French subtitle appearing in the score, Chansons plaisantes, is descriptive, not a translation.) Pribaoutki takes about four minutes to perform.
The titles of the four songs are:
- "Kornílo" ("Uncle Kornilo")
- "Natashka" ("Little Natalie")
- "Polkovnik" ("The Colonel")
- "Starets i zayats" ("The Old Man and the Hare")
Instrumentation
Pribaoutki is written for low voice and instrumental ensemble. Stravinsky is said to have preferred a male singer, although the work is commonly performed by mezzo-soprano or contralto. The eight-member ensemble consists of: flute, oboe (doubling English horn), clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, and double bass.[2]
History
Pribaoutki was composed between June and September 1914, just as World War I was breaking out. During this time, Stravinsky was living in Switzerland: at Salvan during the summer, and Clarens in September.[3]
