Variations on a theme – Through valleys and over hills (По долинам и по взгорьям)

Everyone who was born during the Soviet era has heard – or at least heard of – the Partisans’ Song. It is known by various names: the Partisans’ Song, Amur Partisans, Through valleys and over hills, but it is definitely the most iconic song of the Communism – being one of the most popular songs of the Red Army it was translated into numerous languages and sung in other Communist countries (such as Hungary – even my parents had to learn it in the elementary school). However, less well known is the fact that the favourite song of the Red Army is in fact a Russian Imperial tune originally.

March of the Siberian Regiment (Марш Сибирского полка) – Russian Imperial version, 1915

Gilyarovsky’s version of the song, used as the march of the Siberian Regiment during the First World War. This version was the one making the tune well-known and popular.

Personally I like this one the most – it’s simple yet energetic and cheerful, something I can imagine as the soldiers actually sing on the battlefield.

Song of the Drozdovsky Regiment (Песня Дроздовского полка) – White Army version, cca. 1918

This version was used as the song of Mikhail Gordeevich Drozdovsky’s division during the Russian Civil War. Drozdovsky was among the greatest leaders of the White Army.

When I heard it for the first time I hardly believed that this is a military song – I mean it’s so sad, slow and dignified that one can think it’s a religious song.

Through valleys and over hills (По долинам и по взгорьям) – Red Army version, 1922

And here we go with the Red version – a re-written and re-orchestrated march glorifying the partisans who defeated the White Army... How ironic (and how sad), that the Red Army was singing a song about defeating the Whites, a song that had been actually White.

The tune itself reminds me those monumental buildings erected under Stalin’s reign in a luxurious and grandiose style what we call “Stalin Baroque” in Hungarian. I have to admit, the Partisans’ Song is energetic and catchy – but it has lost the simplicity that made the previous two versions so honest (or sincere?) and touching.

Partisanen vom Amur – German version

The lyrics and the instrumentation are based on the Red Army version, though the latter is modified a little. If I have to choose between this and the Soviet one, then I prefer the German. The German isn’t as noisy as the Soviet and the overall feeling is lighter, not dramatic as its Red-Army brother.

Partisans of the Amur (아무르江의 빨치산) – North Korean version

Yay, the (North) Korean version!

What I just said about the Baroque feeling? This is even more baroque – bent notes, kitchy background music, upbeat sound, we have everything. It is as noisy as the Soviet one if not more.

Amuri partizánok dala – Hungarian version

And last but not least, the Hungarian version.

We Hungarians always say that we are a rather sad nation – continously complaining, sorrowing and never being glad. This was the first thing came to my mind while listening Amuri partizánok dala. Just when you think that in the next second the song will reach its climax because “hey, those Amur partisans finally captured that damned city”, so when there should be a peak, a storm, a thunderstorm – the whole arc of the music just breaks and then the part about the defeated atamans is as the song would mourn those poor atamans. The second thing to come to my mind was that how beautiful is the Hungarian language, especially when the lyric says the Red banner is waving (“Vörös zászló leng, lengeti a szél”), I can see that Red flag in front of my eyes.

Well, thank you for reading, and as I wouldn’t like to end the post in such a Red tone, please let me commemorate here at the end the death anniversary of Admiral Kolchak, leader of the White movement. May he rest in peace.

by Alla