Salmatau

## **Самалтау** (romanisation: Samlatau)

Kazakh folk song

In 1916, during the second year of Great War (World War I), the Russian Empire carried huge human and property losses. The burden of restocking was laid on subject nations. About 49 million hectares of fertile land were forcibly taken away during the war from Kazakhs. The owners were driven out into the barren wastes. Taxes increased form 3 to 15 times. For the needs of war, livestock and property were mass requisitioned. And finally it came to "requisition" of people. On 24th of June 1916, the Russian Tsar issued a decree that a half-million Central Asians, aged 19-43, were to be mobilised for army and labour brigades in the war effort. This decree was the spark for the Kazakh uprising, although the underlying reason was Russian colonisation and the usurpation of Kazakh lands.

Song "Samal Tau" tells about this sad events for young Kazakh in this difficult time.

The song is about young, about 28 year old (a little over 2 *mushels* = 2 dozens born in the year of the cow = 1889) recruit walking from Samal village (close to Shalkar lake in West-North Kazakhstan) to Omsk, as he was forced to register for the Russian military according to a decree predating the revolt by a few months. He was walking for 15 days and almost reached Omsk.

Samal - a gentle breeze, a mountain breeze, bearing the evening or morning cool. The word "samal" itself is associated with something pleasant, bearing enjoyment. Therefore, Kazakhs woman often have a female name Samal.

Tau - mountain, hill.

Sources:

- https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4356&context=etd

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQc9P1629vU&feature=emb\_err\_watch\_on\_yt

- https://www.academia.edu/20709654/Creating\_the\_Kazak\_nation\_the\_intelligensias\_quest\_for\_acceptance\_in\_the\_Russian\_empire\_1905-1920\_

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQc9P1629vU&fbclid=IwAR0Ci8oeFUrMNj8FhcJSHXwP2nb5iDjp4xGGvpoOcGyrjtSuvmP\_GBirO\_s

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NkoFc-bQ\_s

## Dimash performance - 20/10/2019

Performed by Dimash on 20th of October 2019 at the Closing and Award Ceremony of the 6th Silk Road International Film Festival in Fuzhou (China)

Music & Lyrics: Unknown

Arrangement: Erlan (Yerlan) Bekchurin

Kobyz player: Milanbyek Yerbulo

## Lyrics

### Самал тау (Samal tau)

Самал тау, қайран елім, шалқар көлімө,

Не болар солдат болып-айнам көрген күнім-ай,

Есіме қайта-қайта түсе бердің,

Кір-жуып, кіндік кескен-айнам қайран елім-ай

Атты емеспін, жаяумын,

Жаяудан да баяумын,

Он бес күндей жүргенде,

Омбы жаққа-ім таяумын.

Жасым бар қос мүшелдей, жылым – сиыр

Тағдырдың айдауымен-айнам кеттім қиыр-ай

Самал тау, қайран елім артта қалды

Адасқан өрісінен-айнам біз бір үйір-ай

Әке-шешем бар еді,

Жасы жеткен кәрі еді,

Осынау әнге салдырған,

Он алтының зары еді...

Самал тау, қайран елім, шалқар көлім,

Не болар солдат болып-айнам көрген күнім-ай

Source: https://lyricstranslate.com/en/samaltau-самал-тау-ветряные-горы.html

English Translation: ===
Samal mountain,

My dearest motherland with its immense lake Shalkar.

I wonder what my days will be like when I become a solder

Thoughts of you arise over and over in my mind

My precious land where I was born and came of age

I’m not riding, but walking slowly

Not even walking, but dragging myself

I have been struggling for 15 days

I am approaching Omsk

I’m twice a dozen years old (2 mushel \*)

And was born in the Year of the Ox / Cow (\*\*1889)

Forced by the will of fate to travel to distant land

Samal mountain, my precious motherland

I have left you behind

We are like a lost herd of horses gone astray

I have both my father and my mother

They are of advanced age

What drove me to sing this sing is,

The mourning and heartache of the year 1916…

Samal mountain, my dearest motherland

With its immense lake Shalkar,

I wonder what my days will be like when I become a solder

- Kazakhs, like many peoples of Asia, used the eastern calendar, where every 12 years they made 1 cycle (mushel). The hero of the song was 2 mushel, that is, he has already overcome the age of 24.

- Year of the cow is 1889

Source: *Facebook Dimash fanpage:*Dimash Kudaibergen International Fan Club

Dimash IG comment ===
**Dimash comment on Instragram**: https://www.instagram.com/p/B33aIGbgshC/?fbclid=IwAR32MARszJ6TSwBdX44duPZEXLA4j08gQMV2H7HwTiQUkADgxZ2W7wL-Aak

The Closing Ceremony of The Silk Road International Film Festival in Fuzhou

China, CCTV channel
<Samaltau>
"Самалтау" әні
Тар жолда тайғақ кешкенді,
Қиын қыстау кезеңде
Талай тағдыр өшкенді,
Зор зобалаң жылдары
Басынан бұлт көшкенді,
Мың тәуба!Шүкір, көрдік қой
Ұрпағың өніп өскенді.
Қалың елім, қазағым,
Мәңгі жаса, өшпе енді!"

Translation from one of Dears in DKIFC: "Having passed severe trials, in the most difficult times, having suffered many blows of fate in the most terrible years, we have achieved that the sky has changed. A thousand thanks! Thank God we managed to preserve and grow the next generation. My country, my Kazakh people. Be forever !"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQc9P1629vU&fbclid=IwAR0Ci8oeFUrMNj8FhcJSHXwP2nb5iDjp4xGGvpoOcGyrjtSuvmP\_GBirO\_s

### Other singers performing Samaltau

Different version of this song performed by бекболат тлеухан (Romanisation: Bekbolat Tleukhan) :

Other version performed by folk band HasSak:

Lyrics available: https://lyricstranslate.com/en/hassak-samaltau-самалтау-lyrics.html?fbclid=IwAR2frlwOvo04qKcvrZ8hheb\_eY2rvQNfj-GgrdUcFiu0dAdzkso2otVx\_P4