На голос русской песни
To the Tune of a Russian Song
From the cycle Denis Davydov: Two Hearts
Я люблю тебя, без ума люблю…Now available on Spotify.
Watch on YouTube · ShortsA glimpse of the romance
The first musical chapter
На голос русской песни opens the release pages of Denis Davydov: Two Hearts. Denis Davydov’s poetry finds its voice through Alex Kryve—as a personal declaration that reaches across the centuries.
The project tells a story of late love and the return of a poetic voice. This is where that story continues in music.
Read about the Two Hearts project →Poetry — Denis Davydov · Performance — Alex Kryve
«На голос русской песни»
1834
Я люблю тебя, без ума люблю! О тебе одной думы думаю, При тебе одной сердце чувствую, Моя милая, моя душечка. Ты взгляни, молю, на тоску мою — И улыбкою, взглядом ласковым Успокой меня, беспокойного, Осчастливь меня, несчастливого. Если жребий мой — умереть тоской — Я умру, любовь проклинаючи, Но и в смертный час воздыхаючи О тебе, мой друг, моя душечка! Я люблю тебя, без ума люблю! О тебе одной думы думаю, При тебе одной сердце чувствую, Моя милая, моя душечка. При тебе одной сердце чувствую, Моя милая, моя душечка.
To the Tune of a Russian Song
A literary English adaptation, not a word-for-word translation, conveying the mood and imagery of Denis Davydov’s poem (1834).
I love thee, love thee beyond reason! Of thee alone are all my thoughts; With thee alone I feel my heart, My fairest one, my sweetling dear. Oh, look, I pray, upon my sorrow — And with a gentle glance, a tender smile, Bring peace unto my restless soul, Grant bliss unto my wretched fate. If it be my lot to die of sorrow, I shall die while cursing this cruel love, Yet even in death’s hour, still sighing For thee, my friend, my sweetling dear! I love thee, love thee beyond reason! Of thee alone are all my thoughts; With thee alone I feel my heart, My fairest one, my sweetling dear. With thee alone I feel my heart, My fairest one, my sweetling dear.
Where live performance meets the digital world
This recording brings together different eras and ways of making music. Denis Davydov’s poetry, written almost two centuries ago, takes on a contemporary sound through an original musical setting, a live voice, guitar and piano.
Sam and I worked together on the MIDI parts. The string orchestra took shape one voice at a time: violins, violas and cellos were first written as individual MIDI parts, then each part was developed into its own instrumental sound. Professional violinist Yulia Lazorenko was our principal consultant on the sound of the strings. Her professional ear and recommendations helped shape the orchestra.
The drums were produced using a model trained on recordings by Evgen Voronenko. His recorded musical material becomes part of a new recording through a digital instrument.
For me, this is a beautiful meeting of two worlds: live performance and digital possibilities. Human intention, musical memory and the feeling behind the song connect them. Technology becomes part of that dialogue, while the people and the stories of their contributions remain alongside the music.
To Yulia Lazorenko
Yulia Lazorenko is a professional violinist and the string orchestra sound consultant for this project. She is not playing at present: injuries sustained in a building collapse changed her life. Yulia is in Germany, but plans to return home.
Yulenka, you are still the finest violinist I have ever known. Because the music — all of it — is in your mind. Your ear, your experience and your feeling for sound have not disappeared.
You can teach. You now know how to create and bring to life, through other instruments, everything you have gathered in your mind. The world is changing.
Look how you brought our old project back to life! Thanks to you, it began to breathe again. It never occurred to me that we might one day bring the old line-up together again. Everyone scattered across the world. Some are no longer with us…
But… the world is changing. And in this new world, there is a special place for you!
Greetings to Luhansk! I believe the time will come when we…
Credits · People & production+
- Original poetry
- Denis Davydov (1784–1839), circa 1834
- Music
- Oksana Kalinkina / Alex Kryve
- Lyric adaptation
- Oksana Kalinkina / Alex Kryve
- Vocals
- Alex Kryve
- Guitar
- Alex Kryve
- Piano
- Sam (Samuel) Smith
- MIDI preparation & programming
- Alex Kryve, Sam (Samuel) Smith
- String orchestra sound consultant
- Yulia Lazorenko, violinist
- String orchestra
- Violins, violas and cellos. Each part was individually prepared in MIDI, then processed and developed into its corresponding instrumental sound.
- Drums
- A part produced using a model trained on recordings by Evgen Voronenko.
- Mixing & mastering
- With AI-assisted processing
- Production company
- KS Company
- Management
- Sana