ALPAMYSHA AND BARSYNKHYLU

“ALPAMYSHA AND BARSYNKHYLU” (“Alpamysha menen Barsynkhylu”), a monumental epic work of Bashkir literature. Written in a combined poetic and prosaic form. First recorded by A.G. Bessonov in Orenb. Gub. at the end of the 19th – early 20th century. Various versions of the epic poem under the title Alpamysha, Six­year­old Alpamysha and others were recorded by M.A. Burangulov, S.A. Galin, Kirey Mergen, S.F. Mirzhanova, M.M. Sagitov, S.G. Safuanov, N.D. Shunkarov et al. They are united by a common plot. The epic tells about the wonderful birth and childhood of the characters with the heroic power and extraordinary beauty and their pre­marital combat. The motive of Alpamysha and Barsynkhylu fights is steadily repeated in almost all written versions of the epic and is a figurative reflection of a long struggle between the matriarchy and the patriarchy. The fight which ends with the Alpamysha victory symbolizes the matriarchy defeat. The character successfully protects his motherland as well. Alpamysha unites the people under his authority and restores peace and justice in the country. The plot associated with the safe return and new victory of the character in the competitions of grooms, is traditional and typical for the epic genre of many national cultures. Fragments of the epic are performed in the khamak style. Various musical renditions were recorded by N.D. Shunkarov and notated by K.Yu. Rakhimov. About 30 versions of the epic are recorded on the terr. of the RB, Orenb., Samara, Saratov, Chelyab. oblasts and are stored in the Scientific Archive of the UFSRC RAS. The epic exists in the folklore of different national cultures.