Perm singers gave a master-class teaching their English friends to sing Russian “chastooshki”, traditional folk ditties or couplets.

Photo by Polina Kalinina

“Ethno-England” has been  another point in a series of events dedicated to the 25 Years of Perm-Oxford Twinning Link. The Official Declaration on a Friendship Link between Perm, Russia, and Oxford, the UK, was signed by the mayors of the two cities on November 13, 1995. 

In November this year Oxford hosts “EthnoEngland” festival bringing together the representatives of  the twinned cities to hold and participate in master-classes and workshops aimed at popularising music and culture of their countries. The musicians from Perm organised an online master class performed by the lead singer from the “Voskereseniye” music group Polina Kalinina and her younger colleague Yevgeniya Dolgikh (art director of the group - Irina Kuleva). The girls were teaching the participants to sing Russian traditional ditties or couplets – “Chastooshki” - accompanied by the Russian balalaika. 

Participants from Oxford and its other twinned cities learnt the basic music tune and then the chorus part, which they succeeded to sing in Russian. The Oxford singers did their best to harmonize in two voices and tried a special singing technique that they noticed with the key singers, as well as learnt hand movements called “ladoshi” (the palms).

When the festival moderator asked the volunteers to solo the song they learnt through the master-class, there were many demonstrating a high level of performing the newly-learnt material; this, as the organisers believe is a manifestation of the special interest the participants take to the piece of modern Russian folk culture that was selected  for the master-class. 

The whole song was performed several times, accompanied by the balalaika tune, by all the participants together in front of their screens. The participants also pointed out the colourful costumes of the Perm singers which added festivity to the general atmosphere of the master-class.   

The Permians participating in “EthnoEngland” Festival are another proof that the long-lasting friendship link  will stay strong under any difficult times or circumstances related to the pandemic, and online events give new opportunities to learn more about each other. 

To note, the official declaration on a friendship link between Perm and Oxford was signed in 1995. Through a quarter of the century the links between the two cities have proved to be efficient, filled with numerous successful projects, benefiting to active communication, exchange of experience and raising understanding   between their residents.  To commemorate the date, both sides organize a number of online events.