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Scholar, Writer, Mother, Dreamer. Editor of Luminarium, an online library for English Literature of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Moved Beyond Words

I often get asked about my name. Italians claim "Annina" as theirs, meaning "little Anna", from Anna (Anne), the mother of Virgin Mary. Russians also claim the name on similar grounds. I was named after a song from an old B & W Finnish movie. In the film, the hero rows his gondola in Venice to his beloved, Annina. The song is by now an old standard. My friend Petri Bäckström, who is a well-known Tenor in Finland (and abroad), sent me a link today, telling me to listen to his sound sample. Without warning, his voice washed over me with the song, "Annina". It is fifteen minutes later and I am still shaking. I mean not just emotionally shaken, I mean physically shaking as if possessed by an illness.



Annina
Musiikki: Oskar Merikanto
Sanoitus: Daniel Fallström

Annina, viel' valvotko kulta Annina?
Tulen luoksesi venhollain,
Tulen luoksesi venhollain.

Ei taloista välky nyt tulta,
Canalezza se loistavi vain,
se vain.

Annina, mä hiljalleen soudan, Annina,
Niin kevyt on aironi tää,
Niin kevyt on aironi tää.

Vaikk' äitisi valvois,
sun noudan
Hän venhett' ei kuule, ei nää,
ei nää.

Annina, mun kyyhkyni pieni, Annina,
Piazzan kaunein sä liet,
Piazzan kaunein sä liet.

Sun luoksesi suuntaan mä tieni,
Käy luokse, niin huoleni viet,
niin viet.
Annina
Music: Oskar Merikanto
Lyrics: Daniel Fallström

Annina, are you still awake, Annina?
I'm sailing my boat to you,
I'm sailing my boat to you.

No lights are now shining from houses,
The canals alone are alight,
alight.

Annina, I'm quietly rowing, Annina,
My paddle, so light it feels,
My paddle, so light it feels.

Though your mother were waiting,
I'll fetch you,
My boat she'll nor hear nor see,
nor see.

Annina, oh my little dove, Annina,
Most beauteous of the piazza, maybe,
Most beauteous of the piazza, maybe.

Towards you I pilot my course,
Come, and take my cares away,
away.


You can visit Petri's page at:

http://www.laulajat.com/petri.html.

Petri: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

 

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3 Comments:

Blogger Mophia said...

Sweet, I've been wanting to hear that song since you mentioned it in FFXI. :)

February 05, 2008 4:46 PM  
Blogger Doyu Shonin said...

What's with the MAYBE?

>Most beauteous of the piazza, maybe

February 13, 2008 7:00 PM  
Blogger aeolusxiv said...

Thanks for sharing this beautiful song. You have a truly lovely name. And also thanks to your friend who did an enchanting performance.
I found here through searching Bonobo's music. I will pay more visit. Good day :)

March 18, 2008 2:01 AM  

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