There’s something special about listening to chilling winter sounds on a hot summer day. This is ski orienteering contest in woods of Semkhoz village within a few miles from Sergiyev Posad. The echoing beeps come from the clocks at the starting line, and the voices belong to the contest hosts and participants.
Recorded January 31td, 2010
Published May 6th, 2010.
Conscripts’ friends at the assembly position. They seem to be drunk, have presumably stayed up all night and it looks like they’ve inherited the age-old custom of stormy parties originated from the days of 25 year-long serve time (currently one). As the bus leaves they give a massive send-off to their friends gone to the army forces.
Recorded May 13th, 2010
Published May 26th, 2010.
War-time chronicle delivered through the street PA loudspeakers before the parade in Khotkovo. Voices, whistles from a souvenir tent nearby.
Recorded May 9th, 2010
Published May 10th, 2010.
There’s a popular song in Russia commemorating V-day referring to a “happy day with the tears in one’s eyes”. The dual nature of the day is unavoidable, this is the time when all the soldiers who died in the WWII are remembered with the triple salvo. Even if this year parade had no volleys, it was all the same – tears and laughter.
This is the story of 1941 fascist bombings of Abramtsevo train station and Khotkovo railway bridge not far from Sergiyev Posad. The man who tells the story is Olyeg Krivonogov, who was 12 then. His words are mixed with the cheerful parade tunes recorded in Khotkovo yesterday.
Recorded May 9th, 2010
Published May 10th, 2010.
Photo: overlooking Khotkovo from that very bridge – by www.kamensky.ru
You can tell the Victory Day is near by the growing number of St. George’s Ribbons spotted on the streets of Russia. Those are the military symbols symbolizing military prowess – the fact many of the current civil followers weren’t even aware of before it became that popular – now being worn to pay tribute to the people who fought in the WWII.
With all due respect I can’t escape the nasty feeling that all this may look like wearing the crucifix over the coat. It seems so very sincere but way too intentional as well. Well let’s leave it to people to make their mind on their own. Below – Zagorsk (Sergiyev Posad) aerial view, 1939.
In the meantime – some cricket chirr recorded on May 9 last year at the household appliances shop back porch on Druzhby Street. Now there’s Alexeevsky supermarket. And that makes me say thank you to our war veterans for giving the opportunity of standing carelessly at half past ten in the evening recording crickets.
Built-in mics, headphones aren’t required
Recorded May 9th, 2009
Published April 3rd, 2010.
Every first Sunday of May is known as The International Dawn Chorus Day. What a great opportunity to revisit last year dawn chorus recorded at the Abramtsevo estate by the Vorya river.
Recorded May 28th, 2009
Published May 3rd, 2010.
Maslenitsa in Dublin and London is over, now – not just one but two St. Patrick’s parades walked through the streets of Moscow yesterday. The official one so to speak took place not far from Kiyevskaya tube station to the west of the city centre. As expected, it featured eminent guests (Philip McDonagh, the Irish ambassador to Russia was there), eminent stands and the addresses being delivered in a corresponding manner.
The other one – the devil knows what on Stary Arbat street, which is the traffic-free street at the very heart of the capital. The whole thing contradicts every law known to human but yes – the latter (largely DIY) show was waaaay too thrilling than the official celebration.
