Playing Shepherd is a translation from a Finnish Folksong “Soittajapaimen”. Usually it is performed very vivacious and quite fast. It is a paradox because it is said in the song that the shepherd is playing when the night has fallen. How many of us start to jump like an electronic Duracell Bunny after being all day outdoors taking care of the cattle. I bet that even cows or sheep wouldn’t like that kind of the parties but instead prefer to sleep. In former days the pasture sometimes was located far a away from the farm house and the cattle spent time under the sky while the shepherd could have some kind of small and modest cottage or shelter. It was due to agriculture and when the cattle had eaten grass from the one field they were moved to the next spot.
This video is most of all an arrangement demonstration. It might sound a little bit academically because I don’t have a piano or cello at home and sounds are digital. Anyway, you will get the picture of Finnish folk which differs from Anglo-Saxon tradition as well from Slavic folk music. The music sheets of the song are at: http://www.yellingrosa.com/sheets01.htm#sheets02 On those notes you see the melody and accords.
Finnish Words:
Tein minä pillin pajupuusta,
toki vain pajupuusta.
;;Hei, soreasti, koreasti pillini soipi,
toki vain pajupuusta.;;
Metsässä soitan illan suussa,
toki vain illan suussa.
;;Hei, soreasti, koreasti pillini soipi,
toki vain illan suussa.;;
I hope you will enjoy yourself with this song.
