Whatever possessed me to answer a plea to join an ad hoc choir to sing a Kazakh folk song in English about Almaty this Sunday is beyond me. Though it has cost me some time away from grading my students’ papers, I’m actually glad I did go to the rehearsal last Sunday. We each individually took turns by singing in a little sound booth in a studio rigged up with the latest in soundboards and sound equipment. With a window to view the guy who knows what each gadget and gizmo means, I was signalled to sing into the mike while I listened to the real Kazakh singer in my earphones.
Once done with singing the second verse, I zoomed out to join my next engagement atop Kok Tobe, the very place I had been singing about. This upcoming Sunday, we will be singing at the Old Square with three different groups up on the stage, promenading down the steps and swaying and waltzing around as we sing. The following song is in 3/4 time and is very beautiful in its original Kazakh version. The English translation cost $50, or so I’m told, I think they should have tweaked a few more words before we were taped. We are to memorize our words to go along with our voices that were recorded last Sunday. I’ll show photos of the extravaganza on Monday’s post.
I will sing song about you
I will wait letters from you
Always remember your views
Beautiful my Almaty
Fresh white like bred new snow
Your mountains heights bright
And I will never forget
Happiest moments I had
Leaves rustling of KokTobe
Will heat my missing heard
I reminisce every day
Spent with you my Almaty
My heart is pressing to you
My song is full of delight
Here I met my true real friends
Beautiful my Almaty
I will drown in your skies
Will fall asleep in your clouds
Your pure fresh mountains aif
Gives me the life to live
Springly rain of Almaty
Will slake my thirsty soul
I wish to be part of you
I love you my Almaty
