THE SAZ-RIVER

“THE SAZ-RIVER”, “B a n k s  o f  t h e  C h i z h   r i v e r”, “De v a s t a t i o n”, Bashkir ethnic song, uzun-kuy. First registered by A. Yarmikhametov in 1925 in Dengizbayevo village, Samarskaya region. It is published in the “Bashkort aymagy” collection (1929, №7). The song is dramatic. “S.­r.” origin is connected with real events in the Volga region. According to the historic data, the group of Bashkirs who used to live near the Irgiz and ­Kamelik rivers also settled in the valley near the Chizh and Uzen rivers. The Bashkirs had official documents confirming their property rights for these lands, however, they were exiled from there. The song reflects the people’s sorrow; it curses Pokrovskiy, who led the exile of the Bashkirs. The melodical structure of “S.­r.” consists of 2 parts, where the 2nd is the variations of the 1st part. The chant is based on a wide range of sounds (fourteenth) and the mode is major pentatonic; ornamented singing also covers the 6th additional sound.

G.A. Ishkinina