The song is the story about the heroic defense of the Pulien (Pilenai or Punia) Castle on the lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania back in 1336 against the Teutonic Order, honour and unbroken spirit of our ancestors. They believed they would better die and lose everything, rather than to be captured and live as slaves and give their children to the enemy.
Check the lyrics. Original in Belarusian language. Actual English translation by Alena Martsyanava.
The single is released thanks to our American friends Angie and Tony Kuehn.
The single is in the honor of Raman Bandarenka, who became another victim murdered by the regime in Belarus. Our most deeply condolences to his family.
lyrics
Actual English translation (by Alena Martsyanava)
Pulien Castle Storming
In the time of Alhierd’s ruling
The Teuton forces surrounded Pulien Castle,
Grabbing it in their steel claws,
In the deathly siege.
Terror and horror on their crosses,
People rush to the castle,
Mothers carry the old and the young
Into the safety of the fortress.
The Litvins are defending the castle,
Lead by their mighty warrior
Duke Marhier and two thousand men
Keeping the endless fire away.
Thousands of times he slashed his sword
By the gates, on towers and walls,
Pushing back the troops
He fights like an aurochs
But the strength in his arms fades.
Catapults, rams, cannons
Smashed a tremendous hole,
The Landsknechts forcing through, with clanking armours,
To find the dead Litvins’ bodies
Slavery has never been their way
So they burn down their treasures,
And then the old, the women, the children,
And put themselves to death.
The Teutons found no soul alive,
They entered the dead Pulien,
It was so unexpected a capture,
The castle stood dead forevermore.
Since ancient times the fate of slaves
was the worst of sins for Litvins,
As not to disgrace oneself,
the death was their pride,
Without doubt, suffering and tears.
Original lyrics in Belarusian
Штурм замка Пулен
За Альгерда старымі часамі
Крыжаносцаў атрад уварваў,
Замак Пулен стальнымі кляшчамі
У аблогу смяротную ўзяў.
На чорных крыжах лютасць і жах,
Людзі ў замак імкліва бягуць,
Старых і малых, дзетак усіх
У фартэцыю маці нясуць.
Замак Пулен літвіны бароняць,
Там кіруе магутны ваяр
Князь Маргер і дзве тысячы вояў
Адбіваюць бясконцы пажар.
І тысячы раз мячом рубіць князь
Каля брамы, на вежах, сцянах,
Адкідвае штурм, б'ецца як тур,
Але менее моц у руках.
Катапульты, тараны, гарматы,
Праламілі вялізны прагал,
Кнехты ломяцца, бразгаюць латы,
Там літвінавых трупаў завал.
Да рабства ісці не па жыцці,
Скарб літвіны пачалі паліць,
Дзядоў і кабет, дзетак услед
І сябе вырашаюць забіць.
Не засталі прытомным нікога,
Немцы ў Пулен зайшлі нежывы,
Не чакалі захопу такога,
Замак мёртвы стаяў назаўжды.
Літвіны спрадвек як страшны грэх
Не прымалі рабоў нізкі лёс,
Каб ганьбы не мець у гонары смерць
Без сумніваў, пакут і без слёз.
credits
from Šturm zamka Pulien. Single 2020,
track released November 12, 2020
Alieś Čumakoŭ (vocal, hurdy-gurdy, cister)
Ilja Kublicki (cister)
Maryja Šaryj (shawms)
Zmicier Sasnoŭski (bagpipes)
Siarhiej Tapčeŭski (davul, percussion)
Aliaksiej Vojciech (marching drum)
Lyrics: Zmicier Sasnoŭski
Music: Stary Olsa
Recording, mixing and mastering: Pavel Sinilo, Everest Media Studio (Minsk, Belarus)
Artwork: Ksenia Logovaia (@snywonder)
Medieval music band from Minsk, Belarus.
WHAT WE DO:
- Recreate the musical traditions of the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania, 13th – 18th c.
- Perform traditional folklore of the cities and knights of the Belarusian and European Middle Ages, Renaissance music and Early Baroque music.
- Our musical instruments these periods have been reproduced with authentic materials and techniques....more
supported by 7 fans who also own “Šturm zamka Pulien”
The whole album really gets me emotionally worked up. Gorgeous. Salterello II, especially so.
Glory to Ukraine!
Glad to support the cause.
- Respectfully yours,
Franko celticjamboy
supported by 6 fans who also own “Šturm zamka Pulien”
I'm so glad you guys chose to re-upload this on badncamp. This is the album through which I discovered you, and ever since it's release I'm hooked with your music. I wish Viter would reupload their stuff too. Gabriel Tamas
Tele Novella continue their mystical journey to the heart of lovelorn country & western on their upcoming Kill Rock Stars full-length. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 29, 2023