Amongst people of the former USSR, legendary singer, songwriter and poet Vladimir Vysotsky (1938-1980) is loved and admired like no other. A recent survey placed him as the most important cultural figure of twentieth-century Russia, and some say he is the greatest Russian poet since Pushkin; others talk of him as the Russian Bob Dylan, or Jacques Brel. His songs championed the underdog, and even today, forty years after his death at a tragically young age, people in countries as far apart as Bulgaria and Kazakhstan weep at the mere mention of his name. Yet remarkably this is the first landmark collection of his lyrics and poetry in English.
The translators set themselves the hard task of translating Vysotsky's songs as first of all songs, not poetry, enabling readers to perform them in English. This collection of lyrics also includes sample sheet music for six Vysotsky's songs. Vysotsky himself used the seven-string guitar; the songs are adapted here to the western six-string classical guitar by John Farndon and West-End singer Anthony Cable.
This bilingual volume (Print Edition) gives a chance to enjoy Vysotsky's works both in English and Russian, just by flipping the book over.
Farndon, John: - John Farndon is a widely published, award-winning author of books about science and nature, and an acclaimed translator of Russian and Central Asian literature. He was joint winner of the 2019 EBRD Literature Prize with his verse translation of Hamid Ismailov's The Devil's Dance, and a finalist in 2020 for the US PEN Translation award for Rollan Sesyenbaev's Dead Wander in the Desert. He is also a songwriter, poet and performer, who has performed with the legendary folk violinist Dave Swarbrick. His songs have been recorded by rising folk musician Kim Lowings and others. His poetry has been translated into Russian, Uzbek and Kazakh.
Nakston, Olga: - Olga Nakston is from St Petersburg but now lives in London. She has collaborated with John Farndon on many translations of Russian literature, including Ravil Bukharaev's Letters from Another Room, the poetry of Lidia Grigorieva, and Rollan Sesyenbaev's Dead Wander in the Desert. She is currently working on an English translation of Auezov's libretto for Zhubanov's Kazakh opera Abai.
Vysotsky, Vladimir: - "Vladimir Vysotsky (25 January 1938 - 25 July 1980) was a prominent Soviet and Russian singer-songwriter, poet, and actor whose career had an immense and enduring effect on Russian culture. He became widely known for his unique singing style and for his lyrics, which featured social and political commentary in often humorous street jargon. He was also a serious stage actor, becoming a member of the prestigious Taganka Theatre in Moscow.Vysotsky was born in Moscow, where his father was an army colonel and his mother, a German, was a translator. Despite his parents' divorce, he was able to receive a good education, attending an elite school before studying at the Moscow Art Theatre School.Vysotsky's career in entertainment began in the 1960s when he started writing songs and performing them in his distinctive raspy voice. His music, which combined elements of folk, blues, and rock, was not officially recognized by the Soviet authorities due to its subversive nature. However, his songs were widely distributed in unofficial recordings known as magnitizdat, and he became immensely popular, especially among the urban youth and intellectuals.In addition to his music, Vysotsky was a respected actor. He joined the Taganka Theatre in 1964 and played a variety of roles, including Hamlet. His performances were highly acclaimed, and he was considered one of the leading actors of his generation.Despite his success, Vysotsky struggled with alcoholism and health problems, which were exacerbated by his intense work schedule and lifestyle. He died in 1980 at the age of 42 from heart failure. His death was widely mourned in the Soviet Union, and his funeral attracted thousands of fans.Vysotsky's legacy continues to be influential in Russian culture. His songs are still widely listened to, and his influence can be seen in many aspects of Russian music, literature, and popular culture. His life and work have been the subject of numerous books, films, and scholarly studies."
