Pesnyary

1. Name

PESNIARY (PESNYARY)

2. Biography

The group was created in Belarus (Byelorussia, the USSR) in 1967/68 as LIAVONY ("(The) Jesters") by the folk enthusiast Vladimir Muliavin (1941-2003), who became band's constant leader. In 1969 it was renamed to PESNIARY ("(The) Folk Tales Narrators/Singers").

The main specialization of the group was folk songs' adaptation on modern rock instruments (and also violins, flutes, sax, folk whistles, lyre) with heavy accent on vocal harmonies. Their musical approach (not the sound, though) was somehow congenial with that of STEELEYE SPAN". In the very beginning PESNIARY were inspired by THE BEATLES; they (then LIAVONY) even performed "Yesterday" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" with Russian lyrics. But in general, PESNIARY don't sound like any of the mentioned bands. They were certainly pioneers of such music in the Soviet Union. The demanding selection by Muliavin resulted in an unusual amalgam of multi-instrumentalists with incredible voices, a unique band in the USSR (and in the world too) at those times.

 

The 70s.

The peak of the band's popularity, albums were sold in millions of copies (don't think they became millionaires, the one and only record label in the USSR, "Melodiya", paid only symbolic money to artists; on the other hand, artists didn't pay for studio time, promotion, etc). The band often appeared on TV and radio and constantly toured. PESNIARY played 2 - 4 concerts almost every day, but it was hard to buy tickets, they were sold out very fast. 

Byelorussian folk songs (arranged by Muliavin) were the base of the band's repertoire. But there were also songs by Vladimir Muliavin (with lyrics of good Byelorussian poets) and songs of Soviet (Russian and Byelorussian) composers, arranged by the band. Arrangements are very important, because everything PESNIARY performed was made in their unique way. It isn't a mistake to call the band co-authors of songs written by other composers.

It is the period when the band was in constant progress.

In 1976 PESNIARY were the first Soviet rock band toured in the USA.

In the middle of the 70s Vladimir Muliavin decided that it's time for concept works.

Two big suites were created: 

- "Pesn o dole" ("The Song of Fate"), 1976-1977, music by Vladimir Muliavin, lyrics by great Byelorussian poet Yanka Kupala. Unfortunately it was never recorded in studio, only some live recordings exist and still wait for their time to be published.

- "Gusliar", 1979, - a poem-legend to the Yanka Kupala's poem "Barrow", music by Byelorussian composer Igor Luchenok. "Gusliar" has been recorded on LP, in 2000 the label "Boheme Music" released it on CD.

The line-up was extended up to 15 musicians for these programmes.   

 

The following musicians were the core of the band in the 70s:

- Vladimir Muliavin / leader, vocals, guitars
- Leonid Bortkevich / vocals, lyre
- Anatoliy Kasheparov / vocals, bayan
- Vladislav Misevich / sax, flute, whistles, vocals
- Valeriy Dayneko / violin, vocals
- Leonid Tyshko / bass, backing vocals
- Aleksander Demeshko / drums, vocals
- Vladimir Nikolaev / keyboards, backing vocal, trombone, sax
- Cheslav Poplavskiy / violin, vocal
- Anatoliy Gilevich / piano, keyboards, backing vocal
- Vladimir Tkachenko / guitar, violin, backing vocals

They usually considered as band's golden line-up.

80s - 2000.

In 1980 one of lead singers with unique timbre, Leonid Bortkevich, left the band. It was the first dramatic line-up change, because he sung many band's hits. The replacement, in the face of Igor Penya, was found, but the band lost part of their fans.

In this period the band created several songs-oriented programmes. All of them contain great songs, incredible vocal harmonies are still there. With Muliavin as a leader the band always had its instantly recognizable sound.

Such gifted musicians as Igor Palivoda, Boris Bernstein, Oleg Molchan, Oleg Kozlovich (Averin) paid, in different years, their contribution in the band's repertoire as arrangers and composers.

But the popularity decreased, many times there were line-up changes (more than 40 (!) musicians came through PESNIARY from 1969 to 2003).

 

 

2000s.

In 1999 Vladimir Muliavin invited Leonid Bortkevich, who lived in the USA since 1991, to join the band and take part in band's 30th anniversary concerts. Bortkevich left USA and stays with the band till now.

 

On 14th of May 2002 after terrible auto-crash incident Vladimir Muliavin was hospitalized. Doctors made their best during several months, Muliavin often contacted with the band and hoped to return to the stage, but on 26th of January 2003 he has died.

Leonid Bortkevich is now the leader of the band, being blessed by Vladimir Muliavin to continue the work of his life.

 

Current line-up: 

- Leonid Bortkevich / vocals

- Sergey Medvedev / guitar, vocals

- Jan Jenchak / vocals, viola, violin

- Mickhail Dolotov / vocals

- Pavel Khasanov / keyboards, backing vocals

- Juriy Rudakovskiy / drums

- Sergey Osipov / sound producer, woodwinds (on studio recordings) 

 

 

3. Better albums.

"Gusliar" (1979) is probably the most interesting album for progfans.

First four studio albums are less progressive, but they contain most of best songs and represent the band's sound well.

 

The band is highly recommended for prog-folk lovers, especially for those who like strong vocal harmonies.

 

1. The name.

IMO "(The Folk) Tales Singers" is more accurate. The word “Pesnyary” is rooted from the word "pesnya", what means "a song" (both in Russian and Byelorussian).

Pesnyary (not the band) were travelling folk singers, a kind of minstrels, in Byelorussia. Simple word, but hard to translate. 

 

2. Vladimir Mulyavin - according to the album "Pesnyary 25 Years", 1994, Philips, Muliavin.

 

3. The main specialization of the group was folk songs adaptation on the modern rock instruments, with the heavy accent on the vocal harmonies.

- It is necessary to add that the band used, from the very start, both usual rock instruments and flutes, sax, folk whistles, violins, lyra.

 

4. The style.

For my Slavic ears Steeleye Span and Pesnyary sound completely different. It's hardly probably that in the end of the 60s Pesnyary knew about Steeleye Span (because of "iron curtain" only most famous bands and artists like The Beatles, Stones, Elvis, Hendrix... were known then in USSR).

I know The Beatles were an inspiration for Pesnyary, who (then "Lyavony") even performed "Yesterday" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" with Russian lyrics. But again, bands sound completely different.

IMO the question of similar bands is still open.

 

5. Some points of the band's history.

70s.

The peak of the band's popularity, albums were sold in millions of copies (don't think they became millioneers, the one and only record label in USSR, "Melodya", didn't pay royalties to artists; from other hand, artists didn't pay for studio time, promotion, etc), TV appearences and endless touring. The band played 2 - 4 concerts almost every day, but it was hard to buy tickets, they were sold out very fast. 

Byelorussian folk songs (arranged by Muliavin) are the base of the band's repertoire. But there are also songs by Vladimir Muliavin (with lyrics of good Byelorussian poets) and songs of Soviet (Russian and Byelorussian) composers, arranged by the band. Arrangements are very important, because everything Pesnyary performed was made in their unique way. It isn't a mistake to call the band co-authors of songs written by other composers.

It is the period when the band was in constant progress.

In 1976 "Pesnyary" were the first Soviet rock band toured in the USA.

In the middle of the 70s Vladimir Muliavin decides that it's time for concept works.

2 big suites were created: 

- "Pesn o dole" ("The Song of Fate"), 1976-1977, music by Vladimir Muliavin, lyrics by great Byelorussian poet Yanka Kupala. Unfortunately it was never recorded in studio, only some live recordings exist and still wait for their time to be published.

- "Guslyar", 1979, - a poem-legend to the Yanka Kupala's poem "Barrow", music by Byelorussian composer Igor Luchenok. "Guslyar" was recorded on LP, in 2000 the label "Boheme Music" released it on CD.

The line-up was extended to 15 musicians for these programmes.   

 

80s - 2000.

In 1980 one of lead singers, Leonid Bortkevich, the singer with unique timbre, left the band. It was the first dramatical line-up change, because he sung many band's hits. The replacement, in the face of Igor Penya, was found, but the band lost part of their fans.

In this period the band creates several songs-oriented programmes. All of them contain great songs, incredible vocal harmonies are still there, but the popularity decreases, many times the line-up changes (more than 40 (!) misicians came through "Pesnyary" from 1969 to 2003).

In 1999 Vladimir Muliavin invites Leonid Bortkevich, who lived in the USA since 90s, to join the band and take part in 30-th band's anniversary concerts. Bortkevich left USA and stays with the band till now.

On 14-th of May 2002 after terrible auto-crash incident Vladimir Muliavin was hospitalized. Doctors made their best during several months, Muliavin often contacted with the band and hoped to return to the stage, but on 26-th of January 2003 he died.

 

Some musicians, working last years with Vladimir Muliavin, work now in the band "Pesnyary" led by Leonid Bortkevich. It is the band Muliavin blessed to continue the work of his life.

 

Two bands also have now the word "Pesnyary" in their names:

- "Belorusskie pesnyary" ("Byelorussian Pesnyary") - musicians who worked in "Pesnyary", but left Muliavin in 1988 and organized a separate band;

- Byelorussian State Ensemble "Pesnyary".

 

All bands have their fans, arguing which of these bands is now real "Pesnyary".