On January 15 the Janka Kupala Literary Museum in Mjensk hosted a presentation of “Navoshta” (“Навошта“), the newly-published book of aphorisms by Belarusan national poet Ryhor Baradulin (see post for December 11).  “Navoshta” was edited and arranged by Belarusan bard Aljes’ Kamotski (see post for January 15) with photos by John Kunstadter.  In parallel the museum opened an exhibition of 21 photos from the book.  Running until February 15, the exhibition is titled “Life-Long, the Road Grows Longer” (“Дарога расце ўсё жыццё“).

Шчыры дзякуй спадару Рыгору Барадуліну за тое, што пагадзіўся, каб яго майстэрскія вершасказы спалучаліся з маімі фотаздымкамі, Алесю Камоцкаму за досьціп і мудрасьць, укладзеныя ў кнігу, а таксама дырэктару Музея Янкі Купалы Алене Мацевасян і яе калегам за высокароднае правядзеньне прэзентацыі і выставы.

From the exhibition:

Orthodox Epiphany III/Вадохрышча (Частка ІІІ)

Given the 13-day difference between the Western Christian and Orthodox Christian calendars, Epiphany — Vadokhryshcha, the day marking the Baptism of Christ and the end of Christmastide — falls on January 19 in the Orthodox cycle of the year.  The focus of Vadokhryshcha is the blessing of water (symbol of the Baptism), whether collected from a river or sacred well or spring, the site of which often was holy even in pre-Christian times.  Following the 19th, the local priest makes the rounds of houses in the parish, blessing them and, analogous to the Roman Catholic Epiphany practice of having the priest inscribe the initials of the three Magi and the year in chalk on the front door, draws a cross with chalk on the door.

Rakau 2008/Ракаў 2008 год

Bjarezhtsy (cross still on the door in April) 2007/Бярэжцы 2007 год

Orthodox Epiphany II/Вадохрышча (Частка ІІ)

Given the 13-day difference between the Western Christian and Orthodox Christian calendars, Epiphany — Vadokhryshcha, the day marking the Baptism of Christ and the end of Christmastide — falls on January 19 in the Orthodox cycle of the year.  The focus of Vadokhryshcha is the blessing of water (symbol of the Baptism), whether collected from a river or sacred well or spring, the site of which often was holy even in pre-Christian times.  People will nurse the water throughout the year to use against infections.  In parts of Belarus an evergreen tree is placed in the church; in a syncretic Christian/pre-Christian practice parishioners take branches of the tree and place them under their roofs to guard against calamities, e.g., being struck by lightning, associated with the thunder god Pjarun.

Khachen’ 2007/Хачэнь 2007 год

Starazhoutsy 2007/Старажоўцы 2007 год

Sjemuradtsy 2007/Семурадцы 2007 год

Rakau 2008/Ракаў 2008 год

Orthodox Epiphany I/Вадохрышча (Частка І)

Given the 13-day difference between the Western Christian and Orthodox Christian calendars, Epiphany — Vadokhryshcha, the day marking the Baptism of Christ and the end of Christmastide — falls on January 19 in the Orthodox cycle of the year.  The focus of Vadokhryshcha is the blessing of water (symbol of the Baptism), whether collected from a river or sacred well or spring, the site of which often was holy even in pre-Christian times.  Observance begins Vadokhryshcha Eve, the 18th, as people bring their water to the church to have it blessed.

Vadokhryshcha Eve, Monastery of St. Elizabeth, Mjensk-Navinki 2007/Напярэдадні Вадохрышча, Менск-Навінкі 2007 год

Vadokhryshcha Eve, Lahojsk 2009/Напярэдадні Вадохрышча, Лагойск 2009 год

In  honor of Belarusan musicians I/Беларускія музыкі (Частка І)

Andrej Malakovich and Ina Pjerasjetskaja-Malakovich/Андрэй Малаковіч і Іна Перасецкая-Малаковіч

With their wistful yet solemn lyricism, and performances both ethereal and grounded in Belarus’ troubadour and folk-song tradition, Andrej and Ina are among the best musicians in Belarus today.

These photos come from national poet Ryhor Baradulin’s 73rd birthday party in Mjensk on February 24, 2008, not long before the birth of Andrej and Ina’s second child.

Толькі дыхаючы па-беларуску, можна сьпяваць беларускія песьні з такой свабодай. Толькі ведаючы, што слухаеш сьпевы не старажытныя, а заўсёдныя, нерухомееш, каб не замінаць ім станавіцца часткай свайго сэрца.

Гэтыя здымкі былі зробленыя 24 лютага 2008 года ў Менску на сьвяткаваньні дня нараджэньня Рыгора Барадуліна, незадоўга да нараджэньня другога дзіцяці Іны і Андрэя.

The extraordinary in the “ordinary”/Надзвычайнае ў “звычайным“

Master of the House-Mistress of the House/Хозяін-Хозяйка

In my travels I have been struck by the strength of partnership and the delicate balance of wills and expectations in many Belarusan village marriages, where a man and his wife understand that each has authority in specific spheres of their joint life.  I think these marriages, with an attendant pride in the home and sense of responsibility, dutifulness and tradition transmitted to children and grandchildren, have given Belarusan culture and the Belarusan nation their resilience and continuity.

Падчас сваіх вандровак па вёсках я часта знаёмлюся з беларускімі сем’ямі і бываю агаломшаны тым, наколькі моцна зьвязаныя паміж сабой муж і жонка, якая далікатная раўнавага паўнамоцтваў і абавязкаў існуе паміж імі, як яны без слоў разумеюць сваю адказнасьць за розныя бакі супольнага жыцьця. На маю думку, менавіта гэтым сужэнствам, іх рупнасьці, дбайнасьці, гонару за свой дом і павазе да традыцыі, што перадаюцца і дзецям, і ўнукам, беларуская культура і беларуская нацыя абавязаныя сваёй трываласьцю.

Ljepjel’shchyna 2007/Лепельшчына 2007 год

Staryna 2008/Старына 2008 год

Bjarezhtsy 2007/Бярэжцы 2007 год

On January 16 RadzimaPhoto.com begins periodic publication of series of photos under the general theme “Belarusanness:  The Extraordinary in the ‘Ordinary’”.  The first series is entitled “Master of the House/Mistress of the House”.  These series will highlight traditions and other elements of everyday Belarusan life (e.g., The Lintel, The Bench, The Yard, Hands) which many may take for granted but which in fact reflect the richness of Belarusan culture and the resilience and specificity of the Belarusan nation.

In honor of Belarusan bards I:  Aljes’ Kamotski/Беларускія барды (Частка І):  Алесь Камоцкі

With his quiet, wry wit, sometimes tinged with melancholy, and his intuitive talents as a poet and composer, Aljes’ Kamotski is one of the outstanding bards of Belarus.  Born in 1958 in the central Belarusan city of Barysau, Kamotski has won a loyal and enthusiastic following throughout Belarus and Poland with poetry and lyrics which combine wistfulness and subtle, paradoxical humor.   He composes his songs across a wide range of genres — from ballads to bossa nova.  In his albums and live performances throughout Belarus and in Poland, Siberia and elsewhere, aside from his own compositions he draws on the works of Maksim Bahdanovich, Belarus’ beloved poet of the beginning of the 20th century; Uladzimer Karatkjevich, the outstanding Belarusan writer of the 1950’s-80’s; and Ryhor Baradulin, the pre-eminent living poet of Belarus and a close friend and collaborator of Kamotski.  In the fall of 2009 Aljes’ Kamotski issued his tenth album (З бацькоўскай кружэлкі).  His latest book, “Навошта”  (Navoshta — “What For”), with verses and aphorisms by Ryhor Baradulin and photos by John Kunstadter, was published at the end of 2009.

Што робіць творы Алеся Камоцкага часткай беларускага сэрца? Спакойны і парадаксальны, часам сумнаваты і заўсёды востры досьціп? Глыбіня моўнай інтуіцыі? Здольнасьць ператвараць верш у музыку і музыку ў верш?

Алесь нарадзіўся ў 1958 годзе ў Барысаве.  Жыве ў Менску.  Публікуе вершы.  Піша песьні ў розных жанрах – ад баладаў да bossa nova.  У музычнай творчасьці выкарыстоўвае і свае тэксты, і творы Максіма Багдановіча, Уладзімера Караткевіча, Рыгора Барадуліна.  З апошнім здаўна супрацоўнічае і сябруе.  Шмат выступае дома і за мяжой.  Увосень 2009 года выпусьціў свой дзесяты альбом, які называецца “З бацькоўскай кружэлкі”.  Напрыканцы 2009 года прыдумаў, уклаў і выдаў кніжку вершасказаў Рыгора Барадуліна “Навошта”, ілюстраваную фотаздымкамі Джона Кунстадтэра.

Aljes’ Kamotski, Mjensk 2007/Алесь Камоцкі, Менск 2007 год

With his daughter after a concert, Mjensk 2001/З дачкой пасьля канцэрту, Менск 2001 год

With pre-eminent Belarusan poet Ryhor Baradulin, Mjensk 2008/З Рыгорам Барадуліным, Менск 2008 год

In the village of Tarasava 2006/У вёсцы Тарасава 2006 год

In the village of Zaskavichy (where he gave his first public performance) 2008/У Заскавічах (месца першага выступу) 2008 год

Concert at the Bahdanovich Museum, Mjensk 2006/Канцэрт у музеі Багдановіча, Менск 2006 год

Planting fruit trees at Artur’s manor, Aljenjets 2008/Сьвята саду ў сядзібе Пана Алянецкага, Аленец 2008 год

On January 16 RadzimaPhoto.com begins periodic publication of series of photos under the general theme “Belarusanness:  The Extraordinary in the ‘Ordinary’”.  The first series is entitled “Master of the House/Mistress of the House”.  These series will highlight traditions and other elements of everyday Belarusan life (e.g., The Lintel, The Bench, The Yard, Hands) which many may take for granted but which in fact reflect the richness of Belarusan culture and the resilience and specificity of the Belarusan nation.

Khlupin 2007/Хлупін 2007 год