The Great Russian Folk - Chastushka / Великий русский фольк - Частушка

A Chastúshka (Russian: часту́шка, pronounced [ʧɐsˈtuʂkə]) is a traditional Russian or Ukrainian folk poem which makes use of a simple rhyming scheme to convey humorous or ironic content. The signing and recitation of such rhymes were an important part of peasant popular culture both before and after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
A chastushka (plural: chastushki) is a simple rhyming poem which would be characterized derisively in English as doggerel. The name originates from the Russian word части́ть ("chastit"), meaning "to speak rapidly."
The basic form is a simple four-line verse making use of an ABAB, ABCB, or AABB rhyme scheme. An analogous example of such poetry in English might be the familiar children's rope-skipping rhyme:
Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one.
Usually humorous, satirical, or ironic in nature, chastushki are often put to music as well, usually with balalaika or accordion accompaniment. The rigid, short structure (and, to a lesser degree, the type of humor used) parallels the poetic genre of limericks in British culture.
Sometimes several chastushki are delivered in sequence to form a song. After each chastuska, there is a full musical refrain without lyrics to give the listeners a chance to laugh without missing the next one. Originally chastushki were a form of folk entertainment, not intended to be performed on stage. Often they are sung in turns by a group of people. Sometimes they are used as a medium for a back-and-forth mocking contest. Improvisation is highly valued during chastuska singing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• русские народные
• балалайка
• частушка
• фольклор

[bond00777777]

Parody of Soviet peace propaganda:

С неба звездочка упала

Прямо милому в штаны,

Пусть бы всё там разорвала,

Лишь бы не было войны.

Out of the sky a star fell down,

Right into my boyfriend's pants,

But let his junk be all torn up,

Just don't let a war break out.