TALL POPPIES RECORDS New and classical music by Australian composers and performers

I Was Dancing with a Gnat: Music by Ekaterina Komalkova

Duo pianists Aura Go and Ian Munro bring the music of Russian composer Ekaterina Komalkova to Western listeners for the first time in this generous collection of eighty re-imagined national songs.

Aura Go piano
Ian Munro piano
Ekaterina Komalkova composer

Ekaterina Komalkova (1959–) first came to national attention in the last years of the former Soviet Union when she won the nationwide composition competition. Her piano Fantasy became known among international pianists in 1986 when it was chosen as the mandatory test piece for the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. Writing for symphony orchestra, film, television and especially for young people, she was appointed musical director of Ulitsa Sezam – Russia’s version of Sesame Street – in the late 1990s.

Here, in a collection of re-imaginings of Russian folk songs, Komalkova infuses traditional melodies with fresh harmonic twists and rare beauty. The work places her among composers in a genre pioneered by Tchaikovsky, Balakirev, Rebikov and Rimsky-Korsakov. Discovering this unduly neglected composer was a revelation to Aura Go and Ian Munro, as it was for listeners at concerts where her Russian National Songs featured. Tall Poppies invites you to join that tour of discovery.

I Was Dancing with a Gnat comes with a generous 28-page booklet adorned with original art by Canberra-based artist Ashley Cullen. An extensive introductory essay and a personal reflection by Komalkova herself open the notes. Full lyrics to all eighty tracks follow, ranging from ancient peasant songs through well-known works by Lermontov and Makarov to Tsarist and Soviet-era patriotic soldiers’ songs, researched, translated and rendered into poetic English by Munro.

Digital version is available at https://auragoianmunro.bandcamp.com/

Artists

No photograph: Ekaterina Komalkova

Ekaterina Komalkova

No photograph: Aura Go

Aura Go

Photograph of Ian Munro

Ian Munro

Ian Munro has emerged as one of Australia’s most distinguished and awarded musicians, a pianist and composer whose career has taken him to thirty countries across Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia.

Tracks

  1. Between Two Steep Banks Ekaterina Komalkova :38
  2. As I Was Going Uphill Ekaterina Komalkova :24
  3. O Canary Ekaterina Komalkova :38
  4. I'll Go to the River Ekaterina Komalkova :35
  5. I'm Sitting on a Stone Ekaterina Komalkova :22
  6. Fair Maidens Come Forth Ekaterina Komalkova :21
  7. I Was Dancing with a Gnat Ekaterina Komalkova :40
  8. 'Tis Not the Wind That Bends the Branch Ekaterina Komalkova :44
  9. O Soldiers Brave Ekaterina Komalkova 1:03
  10. A Burning Ember Ekaterina Komalkova :54
  11. O My Garden Ekaterina Komalkova :50
  12. O Ye Wide Steppe Ekaterina Komalkova 1:03
  13. Willow Ekaterina Komalkova :58
  14. I've Lost My Ring Ekaterina Komalkova :56
  15. In the Green Meadows Ekaterina Komalkova :55
  16. Grow My Guelder Rose Ekaterina Komalkova :55
  17. I Planted the Garden Myself Ekaterina Komalkova 2:01
  18. Let Us Think of Russia's Glory... Ekaterina Komalkova 1:20
  19. Dunya the Fine Spinner Ekaterina Komalkova :24
  20. Along the Paved Street Ekaterina Komalkova :38
  21. Do You Remember Me, My Love? Ekaterina Komalkova :27
  22. The Lovely Dawn Ekaterina Komalkova 1:32
  23. The Week Ekaterina Komalkova :49
  24. The Steppe Stretches Far and Wide Ekaterina Komalkova 1:10
  25. There's a Cloud in the Sky Ekaterina Komalkova 1:09
  26. I'm Fine Living on the Volga Ekaterina Komalkova :45
  27. The Slender Rowan Tree Ekaterina Komalkova 1:25
  28. O My Fair Maid Ekaterina Komalkova 1:17
  29. Along Piterskaya Street Ekaterina Komalkova :29
  30. Nightingale Son of Budimir Ekaterina Komalkova :44
  31. From Beyond the Island Ekaterina Komalkova 1:20
  32. Under the Green Apple Tree Ekaterina Komalkova :36
  33. I Go Alone Ekaterina Komalkova 1:08
  34. My Bonfire Ekaterina Komalkova 1:17
  35. The Bell Tinkles Monotonously Ekaterina Komalkova 1:33
  36. O Mother, What's That Cloud of Dust...? Ekaterina Komalkova 3:08
  37. At the Gate Ekaterina Komalkova 1:50
  38. About Volga and Mikula Ekaterina Komalkova :54
  39. 'Twas in the Garden Ekaterina Komalkova :25
  40. Dunya Kept a Ferry Ekaterina Komalkova :23
  41. Masha's Not Allowed Across the River Ekaterina Komalkova :33
  42. I'll Go Out, I Will Ekaterina Komalkova :46
  43. I Was Walking in the Meadow Ekaterina Komalkova :39
  44. O My River Ekaterina Komalkova :57
  45. About Dobrynya Ekaterina Komalkova :42
  46. In the Smithy Ekaterina Komalkova :27
  47. Oh Samara Ekaterina Komalkova :53
  48. Ye Nightingale Sing in the Garden Ekaterina Komalkova :34
  49. Along the River Ekaterina Komalkova :26
  50. I Shall Go to the River Ekaterina Komalkova 1:10
  51. The Moon Shines Ekaterina Komalkova 1:03
  52. A Lime Tree in the Field Ekaterina Komalkova :46
  53. In My Garden Ekaterina Komalkova :39
  54. When I Was a Young Married Woman Ekaterina Komalkova 1:00
  55. Under the Oak Tree Ekaterina Komalkova :39
  56. O My Field Ekaterina Komalkova :58
  57. 'Twas on the Sea Ekaterina Komalkova :44
  58. Merry Katya Ekaterina Komalkova :35
  59. In the Dark Forest Ekaterina Komalkova 1:10
  60. The Spinner Ekaterina Komalkova :58
  61. I'll Sow Goose-foot Ekaterina Komalkova :33
  62. Oh I Have a Secret Sweetheart Ekaterina Komalkova :53
  63. There Stood a Birch Tree in the Field Ekaterina Komalkova 1:00
  64. I Was Walking Uphill Ekaterina Komalkova :44
  65. Bells Were Ringing in Novgorod Ekaterina Komalkova :52
  66. O Ye Night Ekaterina Komalkova 1:23
  67. Vanya Was Sitting Ekaterina Komalkova :51
  68. We're Blacksmiths Ekaterina Komalkova 1:19
  69. Outside Our Gate Ekaterina Komalkova :48
  70. Valiant Haz-Bulat Ekaterina Komalkova 1:35
  71. Song of the Volga Boatmen Ekaterina Komalkova 1:41
  72. O'er the Sweeping Fields Ekaterina Komalkova :54
  73. Ancient Lime Tree Ekaterina Komalkova :59
  74. Play My Bagpipes Ekaterina Komalkova :48
  75. Votalinka (Siberian Ditties) Ekaterina Komalkova 1:01
  76. A Rainy Saturday Ekaterina Komalkova 1:34
  77. Don Cossacks Are Brave Fellows Ekaterina Komalkova :58
  78. Hey Heave-ho! Ekaterina Komalkova 1:52
  79. Ducks Are Flying Ekaterina Komalkova 1:44
  80. Slava! Ekaterina Komalkova :54

Performers

Contributors

No photograph: Ara Vartoukian

piano technician

Ara Vartoukian

No photograph: Ashley Cullen

artwork

Ashley Cullen

Where to listen

I Was Dancing with a Gnat: Music by Ekaterina Komalkova is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.

Product details

Catalogue number
TP277
Total playing time
76 minutes 42 seconds
Producer
Belinda Webster
Recording Engineer
Belinda Webster
Mastering Engineer
Christo Curtis
Credit
Ara Vartoukian
Ashley Cullen
Release date
Label
Tall Poppies
Musical work
copyright
© Tall Poppies Records
Sound recording
copyright
℗ Tall Poppies Records
Category
Modern Masterpieces
Genres
Contemporary Classical, Folk

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