FOLK SINGERS AND MUSICIANS
FOLK SINGERS AND MUSICIANS, both the researchers and performers of folk music and poetic heritage. The Bashkir singers and musicians are characterized by the masterful vocal control and playing on folk musical instruments. Their mastery represents a particular school of folk art. A.A.Alyabyev, V.I.Dal, R.G.Ignatyev, I.I.Lepyokhin, F.D.Nefyodov, S.I.Rudenko and others noted in their works the exclusiveness of the Bashkir performers’ art. S.G.Rybakov in his book Music and Songs of Ural Muslims with the Review of Their Life provides a valuable description of the art. All Bashkir yiyins (people’s assemblies) and traditional holidays were accompanied by yirau and sesen performances. Most famous among them were those, who played the kuray, dumbyra, etc, including the following performers: Baik-aydar, Buranbay-sesen, Gabit-sesen, Erense‑sesen, Ishmukhamet-sesen, Karas-sesen, Kubagush‑sesen, Kunkas‑sesen and Makhmut-sesen. An obligatory condition for kuraists’ and folk singers’ competitions was not only a masterly performance with an exact imitation of traditional style and manners, but also knowledge of legends concerning the origin of the works performed. Famous kuraists, founders and followers of various folk schools are: I.I.Dilmukhametov, Yu.M.Isyanbayev, G.Z.Suleymanov, G.G. Ushanov and N.T.Khasanov.
M.G.Salamatov, B.Kh.Suleymanova and S.Yulmukhametov were recognized masters of throat singing art, uzlyau. R.A.Zagretdinov and M.M.Zaynetdinov, kubyzists (ref. Kubyz), created their own school based on ancient traditions. S.A.Ismagilov is among those folk violinists, who can masterfully play the instrument. The followers of the uzun-kyuy performing traditions are: Kh.Kh.Almukhametov, M.A.Burangulov, M.F.Burangulov, A.A. Sultanov and others. The development of the amateur art groups after the Great Patriotic War led to the fact that performers began to participate in amateur art groups’ festivals and events. The RB amateur art groups and performers contests for Kuraists are the following: Award named after Yu.Isyanbaev (since 1978), named after I.Dilmukhametov (since 1990), Open City Competition named after A.Iskuzhin (since 2008), the Kuray Festival (since 2001), the Uzun‑kyuy Bashkir Song Competition (Tuymazy; since 1997), etc.
