What is “Akashka Gur”?
On my soundtrack album “Krona” I collaborated with three incredible female musicians from the wonderfully wild land of Udmurtia.
They were: Veronica, Irina and Olga who make up the group called Азвесям (pronounced az-vye-syam)
Pictured below in one of the scenes, Alyona, the heris lost in nature….
She experiences strange magic, as if experiencing a reality between worlds. In her trance-like state, she stumbles across three women performing out in the wetlands.
To create the score for this scene, myself and Азвесям teamed up: they performed a traditional song, and I helped turn it into a cinematic and dreamlike reinterpretation.
The song chosen was called “Akashka Gur” and it is an Udmurt ceremonial song from the Akashka spring festival. It literally translates to Spring Song – Akashka, meaning Spring and Easter time, and Gur, meaning Song.
It opens with twinkling plucks of the krez (an Udmurt zither), while a beautiful melodic call and response from the gumy (flute) and kubyz (bowed string instrument) create a cyclical hypnotic feeling that feels calm and peaceful, just like the arrival of spring.
I then composed an underscore with ambient textures, felt piano and ethereal vocals to bring a sense of underlying magic and dreaminess to the work.
The track then evolves into a full folk performance by Азвесям that is extended from the film; the main character Alyona, is snapped back into reality, denying her the chance to hear more.
So then, what is Akashka Gur about? The lyrics from the song translate to:
During the time of warm rain,
up on the hill where byd’z’ym kuala stands, (a large Udmurt prayer house)
Let a swallow come and rest on a branch.
Let it fly in, having seen you in a dream.
A grey dove will preen its feathers.
A blue dove will bring happiness to us all.
