PORTARTUR
PORTARTUR, a Bashk. folk song, kyska-kyuy. First recorded by G.Z.Suleymanov in 1938, published in the Bashkort Khalk Yirdardary digest. Drama song. According to a legend, composed by the Bashkirs who participated in the defense of the Port-Arthur fortress during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904—05. The song tells the story of the tragic events of the war and the betrayal of A.N.Kuropatkin, the Commander of the Russian Army in the Far East. The P.-A. mode is a variable of pentatonic. The song has a 2-part form, consisting of 2 periods of square structure. The tune is characterized by a wide range and gradual lowering of the register starting from the 2nd part. A.T.Karimov arranged the song for voice and piano. This melody is used in the namesake dances set by F.A.Gaskarov, Kh.A.Ishberdin and R.M. Sattarov.
