Safet Isovic – Mujo kuje

Thread: Safet Isovic – Mujo kuje

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  1. Zahal's Avatar

    Zahal said:

    Default Safet Isovic – Mujo kuje

    Another sevdalinka
    Hvala unapred!


    MUJO KUJE

    Mujo kuje konja po mjesecu
    Mujo kuje, a majka ga kune

    Sine Mujo, ziv ti bio majci
    ne kuju se konji po mjesecu
    vec po danu i zarkome suncu

    Mila majko, ne kuni me mlada
    znas kad meni na um padne draga

    I ja ne gledam sunca nit' mjeseca
    nit' moj doro mraka nit' oblaka
    nit' moj doro Drine vode hladne
     
  2. miki444's Avatar

    miki444 said:

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    this song just isn't made for the english language !
    anyway, i'll give it a try


    MUJO KUJE
    Mujo is forging

    Mujo kuje konja po mjesecu
    Mujo is shoeing a horse in the moonshine (lit. on moon / is forging a horse)
    Mujo kuje, a majka ga kune
    Mujo is forging, and his mother is cursing him

    Sine Mujo, ziv ti bio majci
    My son Mujo, you shall be alive for your mother*
    ne kuju se konji po mjesecu
    you don't shoe a horse in the moonshine
    vec po danu i zarkome suncu
    but when it's day and on the hot sun

    Mila majko, ne kuni me mlada
    Dear mother, don't curse me (i'm) young
    znas kad meni na um padne draga
    you know me, when i think about my darling

    I ja ne gledam sunca nit' mjeseca
    i don't watch(notice) the sun nor the moon
    nit' moj doro mraka nit' oblaka
    nor the darkness nor the clouds my ...(don't know the meaning of "doro")
    nit' moj doro Drine vode hladne
    nor the cold water of the Drina my ....


    * this is an popular expression for which i don't know an english equivalent that would sound good
     
  3. Zahal's Avatar

    Zahal said:

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    Thanks! Hvala!
    I will try to find out what the word "doro" means, I guess it's an old word/expression obviously not used anymore in Bosnia/Serbia. And even if I have some old words in my dictionary, mostly Bosnian-Turkish, I couldn't find "doro" in it.
     
  4. Spring's Avatar

    Spring said:

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    Yes it's definitely not for English...


    I believe doro is from dorat, meaning bay (horse)

    nit' moj doro mraka nit' oblaka
    nor does my bay (notice) the darkness nor the clouds

    I suppose we can translate "ziv ti bio" as "long live" (like.. "long live America!")

    But in this particular line.. complicated!
    I guess most likely it would be something like:
    My son Mujo, mother loves you,
     
  5. miki444's Avatar

    miki444 said:

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spring View Post
    Yes it's definitely not for English...


    I believe doro is from dorat, meaning bay (horse)

    nit' moj doro mraka nit' oblaka
    nor does my bay (notice) the darkness nor the clouds

    I suppose we can translate "ziv ti bio" as "long live" (like.. "long live America!")

    But in this particular line.. complicated!
    I guess most likely it would be something like:
    My son Mujo, mother loves you,
    hey that gave me an idea
    i guess, in this case "god bless you" wouldn't be a bad translation either.
     
  6. Spring's Avatar

    Spring said:

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    "bless you" is not a bad idea at all!

    maybe.. (just maybe )
    My son Mujo, as your (loving) mother I bless you
     
  7. MayGoLoco's Avatar

    MayGoLoco said:

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    Quote Originally Posted by miki444 View Post
    Mila majko, ne kuni me mlada
    Dear mother, don't curse me (i'm) young
    Doesn't mlada refer to his mother?
     
  8. miki444's Avatar

    miki444 said:

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    uh, now after you said it...could be possible...though it wouldn't make much sense to me.
    i thought it was a poetical way of saying "ne kuni mene mladoga".
    any other opinions on this ?
     
  9. RebekaB's Avatar

    RebekaB said:

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    Miki44 you had right ... His mother is probably old, so it's "Don't curse me (i'm) young". It's difficult to translate cause it doesn't sound good in english, and also this is very old song and contains archaic words' constructions.
     
  10. Spring's Avatar

    Spring said:

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    Yep I agree.. it's not "mlada" - bride in this case.. but

    Mila majko, ne kuni me mlada = Dear mother, don't scold me, (I'm) young
     
  11. Zahal's Avatar

    Zahal said:

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    Thanks!!!
     
  12. eastbaysings said:

    Default history of Mujo Kuje

    I am an American choral director. I love Mujo Kuje, and arranged it for my choir World Harmony Chorus. What is the history of the song and what is its song type (is it Sevdah?)
    How does Sevdah differ from emmeleia?

    I used your comments to adjust the translation in English. My Bosanski is terrible. Let me know what you think:

    Mujo is forging in the moonlight
    And his mother is scolding him.

    My son Mujo, bless you,
    You don't shoe a horse in the moonlight.
    But in the daytime when the sun is warm.

    Dear mother, don't scold me, I'm young.
    You know me, when I think about my sweetheart
    I don't notice the sun or the moon
    Nor does my horse notice darkness or clouds
    Or the cold water of the Drina
     
  13. Spring's Avatar

    Spring said:

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    Hm... I wouldn't compare sevdah and emmeleia, sevdalinka is a Turkish thing, emmeleia is Greek. Sevdalinkas are traditionally women's songs, addressing the issue of love and longing and some even have comic elements while emmeleia is a stately dance used in ancient Greek tragedy.

    In musical sense, sevdalinka is characterized by a slow or moderate tempo and rich harmony, leaving a melancholic feeling with the listener.

    ... the people of Bosnia employ the words "sevdalinka" and "sevdah" interchangeably as the name of this music, although the word sevdah can also be used in other meanings.
    As for your translation, I think it's great!

     
  14. eastbaysings said:

    Default thanks! Is Mujo Kuje sevdah?

    Is Mujo Kuje sevdah? I thought it wasn't slow and melancholic enough to be Sevdah.
    Or could it be emmeleai, or some other type of music?
     
  15. Spring's Avatar

    Spring said:

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    Like I said - it can't be emmeleia if for no other reason than because it's not Greek
    It should be Sevdah / sevdalinka
     
  16. Zahal's Avatar

    Zahal said:

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    It is definitely sevdalinka, and nothing else!
    Great that you found this kind of music, there are probably another 20 songs in this category that are as good as Mujo Kuje.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a0GvuYn9ag
     
  17. eastbaysings said:

    Default Mujo Kuje

    Thanks! I love sevdalinka. I heard a lot of it in Tuzla in 1995-97.
     
  18. Zahal's Avatar

    Zahal said:

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    Quote Originally Posted by eastbaysings View Post
    I am an American choral director. I love Mujo Kuje, and arranged it for my choir World Harmony Chorus. What is the history of the song and what is its song type (is it Sevdah?)
    How does Sevdah differ from emmeleia?
    Hi, how did you get over the notes for Mujo Kuje when setting up the song? I am looking to buy all notes (for keyboard) when I am here, in Serbia and Bosnia, for my favorite songs. Best regards, Zahal
     
  19. eastbaysings said:

    Default mujo kuje

    I'm not sure what you mean by "get over the notes?" Do you mean how did I write (engrave) the melody onto printable sheet music? I use Sibelius music software. I listened for hours to Safet's youtube performance and wrote each note into my computer using the music software. I also had sheet music: obrada: Tihomil Vidosic, revidirao Resad Arnautovic. I used only a bit of that melody and harmony. What a fantastic song form!
     
  20. Zahal's Avatar

    Zahal said:

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    Hi! I am more thinking of buying the complete set of notes in some kind of store (if I find it), so I just can start playing. Like playing Fur Elise on the piano, if I get the notes on a sheet it will be quite easy. Then just some practice will be between my goal to master that certain song, in this case on a keyboard.