Svjata Vatra

2020 is a special year for Svjata Vatra – this new CD is celebrating 15 years of friendship between Estonian and Ukrainian musicians.

These 15 intensive years include 7 CD-s, a DVD, a musical documentary movie „Püha Tuli“ and of course all the brilliant musicians who’ve been performing with the band in more than 20 countries all over the world.
20. of march is the day when Svjata Vatra is presenting their newest CD „World, You Are Changing“, recorded by 3 generations of musicians from 3 countries – to point out, that the most imporant qualities of life are carried over from generation to generation, but musicians have always been collaborating over the cultural borders.
So the band has been joined by Rute Trochynskyi (daughter of lead singer Ruslan) and a choir called Žurba an ensemble formed by Estonian-Ukrainian grandmas
Rute has been risen together with the band and has been singing together with her father since she first started to sing along to the lullabys. She’s been a frequent guest to the band’s performances since she was 5 years old.
Ensemble Žurba has been singing away in Tallinn for almost 3 decades, performing on events and festivals both in Estonia and abroad.
Svjata Vatra is also very happy to present our friend Radik Tyulyush on this CD – with his mighty Tuvan throat singing he’s so well known for from the groups Huun Huur Tu and Chalama Project.
We’re all just good friends and share the dedication to keep our traditions going and to share it with everyone who’s in the right place at the right time.

The record has been supported by Estonian Integration Foundation, greatest thakns to Viktoria Melnik.
CD “ World, You Are Changing ”
Ansambel Svjata Vatra: Ruslan Trochynskyi, Juhan Suits, Karl-Heinrich Arro, Robin Mäetalu, Ats Tani.
Guests: Rute Trochynskyi, the Ukrainian quire „Žurba“, Tuvan thorat singer Radik Tyulyush.
Recorded by Frank Reisner Studio89
Master Rauno Avel Studio89
Physical form of the CD designed by Asko Künnap
Photography: Jelena Rudi

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At the point when the song „World, you’re changing“ was written no one could have thought, how prophetic it would end up to be.
It may seem just a while since the summer of 2019, when the plans for the recording were first discussed to the release of the CD on the 20. of march, 2020 – but the whole world has been tangled in unprecedented global changes, which have rocked the musical world at least as much as the rest of it.

Thus, in our attempt to comply, we’re taking a positive route and presenting the brand new CD… – - – > online.

We may be grounded for a while, but we’re not going anywhere and we’re looking forward to the first chance to announce physical concerts both home and accross the world.

Untli then – just enjoy music. Feel free to support us – our records and goods qualify plenty good enough for ourselves and our friends.. ;)
But your support is really most appreciated in the dark days we as musicians are encountering.

1. Ty zh mene pidmanula / You tricked me and let me down
A well known humorous and playful Ukrainian folk song that’s a must on every party and gathering. Verses may vary and may also be added for different occasions. A young man is complaining that a girl has promised to do some things together with him avery day of the week, but deceived him every single time. This is a song that really unites different generations.

2. Svit, Ty minjaeschsja / World, You are changing
A time of big changes brings ones attention to the real values – love toward one’s self, others, the world – and life itself. It’s important to take the right steps and listen to one’s heart. Ruslan Trochynskyi was sitting on a beach of a tiny Estonian island Naissaar last summer, watching the sea, wave after wave – and the music just came to him together with the words. Little did he know that by the time the CD would be releasing on march 20. 2020, the whole world would indeed be in the middle of massive global changes. In the present situation, the message of this song and the whole album seems even more important and meaningful.

3. Gorila Sosna / A burning pine tree
A warm Ukrainian folk song from the day before a wedding – a young bride singing farewell to her former life, her beautiful long hair that have to be hidden under a scarf to be only ever seen by her husband, not being able to spend time with her friends any more.. Love is not spoken of, love is felt – we feel it and put it into the music. Our arrangement includes three styles through three generations – folk-ensemble Žurba, folk-rock band Svjata Vatra and alternative-folk singer Rute Trochynskyi.

4. Tulesõnad 2020 / Fire spell
Traditional Estonian spell, communicating with the mystic guardians of fire to get it to do what’s needed. Everything has come from the fire and it’s critically important to hold and respect it, otherwise it might use its powers against you.

5. Shchedryk
“Shchedryk” is the most well known Ukrainian Christmas song that’s been heard in hundreds of arrangements over the years. Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych used archaic traditional material to compose the song in 1916. In the song, there’s a swallow flying over the sky, wishing all the good things that the spring would bring to everyone. In the older tradition, new year was celebrated as the spring came in april – only later, with christianity being introduced to the area, the new year’s eve moved to the day we all know today. Well – almost – as the Ukrainian new year’s eve is still celebrated according to the old calendar, on 13. of january in the Julian Calendar (December 31 Old style). The night is called „Shchedryi Vechyr” (Bountiful Evening or Feast of Epiphany).
The song got to be known in english as “Carol of the Bells”, arranged by Peter J. Wilhovsky, after the song was performed in Carnegie Hall by Ukrainian national choir in 1921. Wilhovsky publicized the song in 1936, with new lyrics in english, which did not follow the original, but got recognized in the USA and Canada. Cince then, „Shchedryk“ has been known as a Christmas song.
The song „Shchedryk“ is built around father (Ruslan Trochynskyi) and daughter (Rute Trochynskyi) singing together, supported as an echo from the past by a choir of Ukrainian grannys (Žurba).

6. Kalyna malyna 2020
A very special song for Svjata Vatra that’s been included in different arrangements on almost all of the CD-s the band has produced. Kalyna is a beautiful, but bitter bright red berry, that traditionally symbolises a woman. Girls are harvesting the berries to dry them for winter, at the same time making sure they’re looking pretty for the young men who are checking them out.
Ruslan has added his own part about a young man, who’s lost his love and is feeling coldness in his heart and dismissive towards life – but he shouldn’t, ’cause a time will come when there’s a new love in his life. One shouldn’t let his heart to grow cold, cause love is always present inside of it.

7. Kolyskova / Unelaul / Lullaby
The very first songs we hear are lullabies that parents sing to a newborn child with endless love. There is a magical power in these songs, connecting the child with parents and family – bonding different generations.
Ruslan’s (Svjata Vatra’s lead singer) grandmother sang this song to his mother, who sang it to Ruslan and now Ruslan has been singing it to his own children – the song has been known in the family for at least 5 generations.
It is very important to hear the lullaby in ones mother tongue. This particular song has originally been in Ukrainian, but Ruslan’s children have two mother tongues – so he translated it to Estonian too and the children have always heard it in two languages.
In this record we can hear Ruslan’s eldest daughter Rute, who was also the original reason for the translation.
Not only are lullabies bonding the families – they can also bring back childhood memories and for adults, reminding them the warm feeling of being loved and cared about. Let’s all share this beautiful feeling by remembering our own old lullabies and singing them to our children and grandchildren.