Events for Fall, 2009:

  Russian-American Song Show

Who: Professor Kalbouss (OSU)
Where: AMASA CHAPEL
When: OCTOBER 27, 4 p.m. (reception follows)

This program attempts to relate how the Russian popular music tradition found its expression in the United States first through immigration, and then in the compositions of American artists, sometimes who had no Russian backgrounds.

The program is presented in three parts: Russian popular songs, both pre-revolutionary and Soviet, that were sung in Russian-American cabarets from the 1900's through the 1950's; songs that were hits in Russia and then became hits in the US with new, English, words -- sometimes immigrating to the US via the Jewish community in New York; and songs that were written on Russian themes, but strictly of American origins.

The program includes examples of the Russian "Romance,' a type of cabaret ballad, as well as gypsy songs, songs in Yiddish, and American hits by Sophie Tucker, Irving Berlin, and Nelson Eddy. The program also includes a Russian version of "Hello Dolly."

The program is live, Professor Kalbouss performs the songs accompanying himself on a piano.