Herold Lavrentievich Kittler (1847-1916): Expectation Waltz (ожидание) This is a Russian waltz written in 1901. It's best known in Russia through a prominent appearance in the 1962 film "Optimistic Tragedy", and also played as a klezmer song under the name "Ershter vals" with Yiddish lyrics by Chaim Towber. My instrumental recording on mandolin and tenor guitar is based on Paul Hardy's tunebook: https://pghardy.net/concertina/tuneb...n_tunebook.pdf Mid-Missouri M-0W mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Martin
To go with "Expectation", here is another Russian waltz called "Toska" which is a word for the specifically Russian mix of melancholy, weltschmerz, nostalgia and dull aching longing. This tune is attributed to M. Obytshaiko, about whom I know nothing. It's also played as a klezmer tune. My recording is based on a leadsheet I found at Musescore: https://musescore.com/howardu/scores/5849218 1898 Giuseppe Vinaccia mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Martin
Both are nice and well played. I like the second one especially. That sounds like a lot of unusual notes in there. I'm so used to playing in G and D that I'd struggle!
Thanks, Dennis. These Russian waltzes are fun precisely because they have such a different tonality, which is what creates the melancholy mood. I've used different mandolins on the two tunes with very different tone -- the Mid-Mo is warmer, but the Vinaccia is more haunting (especially with a bit of added reverb). Martin
Two fine, haunting melodies, Martin. Thanks for links to the scores too.
Well played Martin, reminds me of an old music teacher from school who was talking about Mahler, and the notes on the margin of the major scale. He told us that it’s only because the notes are not what we were expecting that the tune sounds tragic.
Two nice Russsian tunes, very well arranged and pLayed!
Here is another take on Expectation Waltz, this time on solo mandocello (with tenor guitar chords). Apologies for the slight stumble in the final da capo section -- I actually recorded another take immediately afterwards without that mistake, but I accidentally opened the earlier take for editing and only noticed after I had already deleted the later take. I decided against re-recording as the take is otherwise fine. Same source as my previous recording, Paul Hardy's tunebook: https://pghardy.net/concertina/tuneb...n_tunebook.pdf Suzuki MC-815 mandocello Vintage Viaten tenor guitar I think the mandocello give it a bit more oomph and quite a different feel from the mandolin. https://youtu.be/0YC_yeuRgso Martin
Sounds fine Martin, small mistakes only demonstrate, that we're human beings.
Thanks, Christian -- fun tune on mandocello. Martin
