Russian bard
Timur Shaov serenades NPR listeners worldwide.

The Bard

June 22, 2007

The tradition of “bards” has its roots in the Soviet Union of the 1960’s. Singer-songwriters wrote metaphorical protest songs that represented subtle opposition to the government. One of the best bards of the new generation, Timur Shaov talks about how the genre has evolved.


Listener Comments Leave a Comment | Refresh Comments
[1]
Posted by: David Bell
June 23, 2007 - 02:26AM
Taipei, Taiwan

Can you tell me if there's anywhere on the web where one can download digital music files of any of the bards you reported on and or interviewed (classic and or contemporary)?

[2]
Posted by: Christine Hanline
June 23, 2007 - 08:35AM
grand rapids, mi

I would like to download music files too, it was wonderful to wake up to the music of the bard.

[3]
Posted by: Vladimir Stavitsky
June 23, 2007 - 08:36AM
NJ

Vysotsky: complete mp3 collection http://zipsites.ru/music/vysotskii/

texts are also there.

[4]
Posted by: Vladimir Stavitsky
June 23, 2007 - 08:42AM
NJ

here's Vladimir Vysotsky - the "official" site (in English). Sound in RealAudio.

[5]
Posted by: Rusty Brockmann
June 23, 2007 - 07:34PM
New York

I listened to the entire program and was facinated. My wife and I were in Moscow for the New Year celebration with Russian friends who are very pro Putin. It was interesting to hear Mamontov's comments and to think back to our friends perspective.

What was the "bards" name?

[6]
Posted by: Boris Miller
June 23, 2007 - 10:33PM
New York

"Bards" name is Timur Shaov. You can find his songs on http://www.russiandvd.com/store/product.asp?sku=34084&genreid=. Enjoy.

[7]
Posted by: Anna Mendlin
June 25, 2007 - 02:01PM
Princeton, NJ

try this link for Timur Shaov's MP3 files. Shaov is the best of today's "bards"....

http://www.shaov.ru/discs_and_lyrics.php

if you are fluent in Russian, you must also visit the site

http://vladimir.vladimirovich.ru

- a uniquely postmodernist satire on Putin, with an almost daily account of his exploits in the style of various works of Soviet literature and movies. The English version of the site is not nearly as good.

[8]
Posted by: Anna Masterova
June 27, 2007 - 05:01PM
Moscow

To download the bards

http://www.bards.ru/old_audio/

Enjoy :)

[9]
Posted by: Eugene
July 11, 2007 - 03:31PM
NJ

I would not call Shaov "the best" today's bard. His songs are pourly written (not in terms of music, who cares about music - he is simply not so good with the Russian language... ah, most Russians are) and far, far away from what we poetry. He is liked because his songs are immediate responses on todays problems, they are like news-paper articles, valid only for today. That means that when he stops composing new ones - he'll be forgotten...

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