Popular Soviet Song in the Twentieth Century
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The song was written in the early 1930’s by the composer Konstantin Listov based on the poem by Paul Arsky. It became one of the most popular dancing songs/tunes in the Soviet Union.
In Chaire’s Park the roses are starting to bloom,
In Chaire’s Park almond-trees are starting to bloom.
I am seeing in my dreams your golden braids,
I am seeing in my dreams the joy far away…
My dear, we will see each other again soon -
You are daydreaming about the love letter.
The storms are dancing in the North Pole,
And northern wind is singing outside the window…
In Chaire’s Park the violets are getting bluer,
There are hundreds of different varieties of bushes.
I am seeing in my dreams your passion that is tender and hot
I am seeing in my dreams your light, the spring and the love.
A story behind the song…
As early as I can remember, I sang this song with my father Nikolaj. My first memory of that is when he would pick me up and dance with me, while singing this song. I looked at him with such adoration. The song sounded so cool and he looked so happy and handsome at the moment. Later, when I learned to play piano, we would enjoy singing this song together in a more sophisticated version. Those were my bonding moments with my father…
The poem was written in late 1920’s by Paul Arsky while he vacationed at a resort on the grounds of Park Chaire on the South of Crimea. The most detailed and fascinating detailed story about Park Chaire and the song can be found on www.peshkom.info . The site is in Russian.
In short, the history of the Chaire’s Park has begun in 1902, when the land was purchased by Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolaevich Romanov of Russia (the younger) for his wife Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna. The mansion, the park and the gardens that were created by the architect N. Krasnov were given name Chaire. The translation of Chaire from crimea-tatar language is “mountain garden”. The park became especially known for its exceptionally beautiful rose garden. In 1920, after the architectural complex was confiscated by Soviet Government, it became “yuzhsovkhoz”, a collective farm that continued to grow and sell roses and other variety of flowers. In the mansion a school-colony for children was established, who also took care of grounds and flowers. The original building does not exist today. But the two villas on the grounds around of Chaire’s Park are survived, and now are resort/hotels.
This song was recorded in March, 2010, at the Sean Sweeney Recording Studio with pianist Arkady Figlin.