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1.
High, high, oy, high I fly in my sleep above the Earth. Far, far, far away, Far away is my homeland. For long, long, year after year, Long I’ve been walking around the Globe. Soon, soon, not beyond the mountains, Soon I will fold my tired wings. Play, trumpet, Spin, the Earth. Saxophone, turn out All the sorrow. Many, many, oy, so many years, For many years I’ve been looking for happiness. Songs, songs, lovely songs – My native home and my life are in songs. Heart’s wounds Baraban (drum) will heal. It’s nice as in Paradise When I sing songs. Play, trumpet, Spin, the Earth, Saxophone, turn out All the sorrow.
2.
Oy gvalt, my beloved is a handsome man, I would give for him the whole world. When he looks at me with his dark eyes My heart beats like a baraban (drum). Give a kiss, give a kiss, Give me pleasure, Give a kiss, give a kiss And sing with me a melody. Oy gvalt, my man plays a melody And all the girls start dancing. I would give for him the whole world, My man is such a delight!
3.
In the sky a clear (bright) crescent moon is shining onto the autumn town. Drops of sky on the asphalt are breathing with dark cold. Gardens are waiting dawn and dog’s barking. Doors are shut tight from wind and despair. Ah, you September, dark nights, Moon-filled nights hoodwink my soul. A crescent moon is shining with its yellow eye onto the autumn country Lulling the worldly mountains and rivers to peace sleep. Let the continent see the golden Sun in its dreams. Let the Earth shed its worries in the blue calmness. ... Only I, the restless soul, get no slumber under the full moon. I keep yearning and searching for something with my restless soul. The Sun will colour my town with its first rays. Wake me up with the light, calm my soul down.
4.
I look at the sea – blue and wavy, I find no peace with the fast waves. I look at the sky – light blue, clear. I find no peace with the fast clouds. I look at the woods – light silver, I find no peace with the bushy birches. Why tell fortunes by the sea and the waves and hope for peace? Isn’t it better just to trust my love’ s arms for life?
5.
Oh, my darling, winter has come. Oh, so why do I feel sun-like as in summer? Winter has come, the snow is falling and falling. We are sitting in a room and singing a song. A song and a play and a dance, We rejoice as if it was summer. Y am-da-ra-di-da-di. God’ s world is light. Yam-da-ra-di-day, the world is beautiful. Yam-da-ra-di-da-di. God’ s world is light. Yam-da-ra-di-day, I am not alone.
6.
In the grey sky, through the low, sky planes rush, rush. A bird in a cage begs to be released, asks to be let out. People invent rules and through their lives rush, rush, Making business, money, not to make fools of themselves in their friends’ eyes... So I... in aeroplanes and trains... through continents and towns Sing and play without too much worry, No, I don't believe in bank accounts, advertising, TV news. Oh, play your games everyone, but not me! We want everything around us to grovel to civilization And globalization brings us further and further from the source. I am swimming in the sky in a bus filled with petrol And look with sadness at my home that is called the globe.
7.
Oy, a summer-like night, my wonderful love, When all people, they go out, Oy, the moon, she is already far above And the Sun has already gone down. Oy, on a bench we sat And we sat in deep thoughts. And we revealed so many secrets to each other And we couldn’t stop.
8.
In my head there is a barrel of drunkenness – another week has passed. I rumble across Europe and forget my mother tongue, oy! In churches and synagogues I ask God again and again: “Give me joy, let me sing another tune, oy!” A little bit of time, oy, give me, my dear God! A little bit of time and I’ll embrace the sky with my soul. People drink, dance... Raise your glasses! In my head there is a barrel of drunkenness – life has passed like a week, oy!
9.
So, my girlfriends were sending me on a long, long journey. They hugged me and hoped I’d find my way. The road is twisting, paths un-trodden... I get used to it step by step, the further – the easier I go. A heavy load to bear I carried on my shoulders and suffered. Now I’ll throw down this weight – whatever will be will be! I so miss lightness. I'll get there easily and with joy, I'll stay there at home for a while. I haven't visited for many years – everything is familiar. With a smile I will give a wink to God and start my journey back. Greet me, my lovely ones. I am back. I live.
10.
Ay–yay–yay 

about

”Breathtaking vocals”
Musician

“The music expresses contemplation,
exuberance, humour and pathos.”
Songlines Magazine

Trumpets, saxophones, clarinet, baritone horns, helicons and percussion. Fanfara play wild east European Roma brass band music for dancing. Under the guest direction of Siberian born virtuoso vocalist Polina Skovoroda - Shepherd, we blend traditional, revolutionary and songs of celebration in Yiddish and Russian.

Polina Skovoroda (Shepherd) is an internationally renowned singer. Born in Siberia, Russia, she learned music as a child from her grandfather, a button accordionist, and her mother, a singer. She soon became her mother’s accompanist playing the dark theatres of Tatarstan to wildly responsive audiences. Singing in Russian and Yiddish she has worked and recorded solo, with bands, orchestras and choirs over the whole world. 



Based in Brighton, Fanfara have been playing together since 2003. Members have performed at Guca, Serbia, Borneo Rainforest Music Festival, Carnival in Cuba, Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall London, QEH London, Luxembourg Philharmonie, Lucerne Concert Hall, amongst others.

credits

released June 27, 2010

Polina Shepherd - voice, piano, composition, lyrics
Merlin Shepherd – clarinets, alto saxophone
Tom Livingstone - trumpet
Mark Hindmarsh - baritone horns
Pat Power - zabumba, assorted percussion & snare drum
Bruce Stevens - helicon

Engineer/Studio Glover @ eight eleven sound studio.
Mastering Al Scott @ metway
Producer Merlin Shepherd
Artwork Mikhail Achkinazi
Photography Olga Forster
Cover design Olga Forster

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about

Polina Shepherd Brighton, UK

Polina Shepherd (Skovoroda) was born in Tomsk, Russia. Now an internationally renowned singer, she brings the songs of the Steppes and the Shtetl up to date with passion and haunting soul. Her singing, based on traditional forms, is deeply rooted in east European Jewish and Russian folk. Growing up in Tatarstan placed her close to Islamic ornamentation, which can be heard in her unique vocal style ... more

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