(8/25) Fiddler / Guslar

8. Fiddler / Guslar

Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský: Songs (2014)

Pavol Breslik: Tenor

Róbert Pechanec: Piano

Guslar

Slová: Svetozár Hurban Vajanský

Hercegovinou guslar blúdi,

spieva u prahov dobrých ľudí;

guslar je slepý, malý syn

vždy pri ňom, jako jeho stín.

Z úskalia Turek povyskočí,

nad hlavou ťažký handžár točí:

valí sa synka mladá krev,

lež neuhasí Turka hnev.

„Sem gusle! Gusle o skalinu

udre a hodí rozsadlinu.

Zajačali bôľne - desný spev,

lež nezhasí Turka ľúty hnev:

„Sem novce!“ Novce Turek v ruku,

k tomu ječermu, pojas, stuku

a z hlavy chomáč šediny,

tak zmizol v temné skaliny.

A čo mu nechal?

V starej hrudi pieseň.

Ach, tá sa búrno vzprúdi,

pomstou zapáli celý kraj;

Bože, tú pieseň požehnaj.

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Fiddler

Words: Svetozár Hurban Vajanský

The Hercegovina fiddler romas,

he sings in decent people's homes;

the fiddler's blind, his young son there

is with him always, everywhere.

A Turk leaps from the rocks nearby,

waving his scimitar on high;

the young son's blood streams forth in spate,

but the mad Turk's rage dose not abate.

"The fiddle!" Smashing it in spite,

he flings it down the rocks with might.

It moans a frightful song of pain,

but that crazed Turk demands again:

"Your money!" Grabbing his small purse

and all the fiddler had of worth

and fistfuls of his old grey locks,

the Turk went off among the rocks.

What did he leave with him?

A song in his old breast.

Oh, soon like fire it will erupt,

the land will burn to avenge its wrong;

Bless, O Lord, this song.

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English translations of the Slovak lyrics: John Minahane

The lyrics are from the booklet of "Songs" CD.