BYDIO
- Chuck(G)
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- Chuck(G)
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The title is the Polish word for "cattle":knuxie wrote:The more accurate meaning of Bydlo is 'a cart with big wheels drawn by a cow,' interpretative of the oppression of the people at the time.It's "Bydlo"--the Polish word for "cattle"
Ken F.
In a letter of Musorgsky's to Stassov, written in June, 1874, just before the "Pictures" were completed, the composer calls this movement Sandomirzsko Bydlo, ie, "Cattle at Sandomir", and adds that the picture represents a wagon, "but the wagon is not inscribed on the music; that is purely between us".
- from "Victor Hartmann and Modeste Musorgsky", by Alfred Frankenstein
Published in The Musical Quarterly, July, 1939
Hartmann's sketch depicted a Polish dray, drawn by a team of oxen. The music is eloquent of the steady, powerful pull of the beasts.
There is also a pejorative meaning to "Bydlo" to the Ukranians--that of a dullard, or coarse unsophisticated peasant--particuarly those from Poland.
Wikipedia Bydlo article
What's your source for "Bydlo" meaning an oxcart?
- Chuck(G)
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Hi Ken,
That's interesting, but I can find nothing in any Polish dictionary referring to "bydło" meaning anything but "cattle".
I wonder if Stassov was to Mussorgsky what Schindler was to Beethoven--full of interesting stories because he was a friend who could cash in as a biographical source; unfortunately, many of the same stories were apocryphal.
It doesn't make a lot of sense to read "oppression"into the work. In Mussorgsky's time, Russia, Mussorgsky's native land,was have been the primary oppressor. Alexander I was particularly nasty in that respect.
I think it's kind of funny that the Japanese page you cited spells it "Bydro" in the title, particularly since the stroke-l in Polish is pronouced as a "w"!
That's interesting, but I can find nothing in any Polish dictionary referring to "bydło" meaning anything but "cattle".
I wonder if Stassov was to Mussorgsky what Schindler was to Beethoven--full of interesting stories because he was a friend who could cash in as a biographical source; unfortunately, many of the same stories were apocryphal.
It doesn't make a lot of sense to read "oppression"into the work. In Mussorgsky's time, Russia, Mussorgsky's native land,was have been the primary oppressor. Alexander I was particularly nasty in that respect.
I think it's kind of funny that the Japanese page you cited spells it "Bydro" in the title, particularly since the stroke-l in Polish is pronouced as a "w"!
- Chuck(G)
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- Chuck(G)
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