Evelyn Petrova’s own comments to her pieces

December. A lot of land.
The text is based on a lyrical song from Pskov region.

January. Yuletide.
Russian Christmas is in January. The time around Christmas is the time for fortune-telling. Most common way of fortune telling was with moving saucers. Fortune telling songs were an indispensable part of the ritual. Each song had a meaning and predicted fate, whatever it might be: wealth, poverty, long maidenhood or even death. The piece is based on a compilation of songs from Novgorod region.

February. Winter Song.
Instrumental piece where vocal elements are treated not as a means of bringing a lyrical content but as a separate instrument.

March. The Skomorokhs.
Shrovetide – a time of a Russian carnival. Merrymaking, pancakes, partying, singing and dancing. The text is original and is nothing but gibberish.

April. The Lullaby.
Lent. The text is a compilation of songs from Moscow region.

May. Khorovod (Round dance)
A season of khorovods, courting and engagement. The text is a compilation of khorovod songs.

June. Promenade.
Instrumental composition based on a Karelian horn tune

July. Silly Dunya.
Haymaking time. Based on a song from Tverskaya region

August. Spikelet
Harvesting. Based on old Russian ritual performed on the eve of harvesting.

September. Funeral of a Mosquito.
There was a traditional ritual of burying flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes and other “domestic” insects lest they stay out of the house. Girls organize the funeral. A “coffin” is carved out of a vegetable, a handful of insects is placed in the coffin, then with crying and laments the coffin is buried. Based on a popular comic song.

October. Wedding Song.
There was a popular game of courting and engagement, which quite often grew into real courting, engagement and even weddings. The text is traditional.

November. Posidelki (Sittings)
The khorovod season is followed by the time of posidelki – long, endless talks during long endless late autumn night. Sometimes a separate house in the village was dedicated for the season of posidelki.