SUKAN-BATYR

“SUKAN-BATYR”, Bashkir kubair. It was first registered by N.D. Shunkarov from a kuray player, Safargali Sultanbekov, in 1962 in Norkino village, Argayashskiy District, Chelyabinskaya region. It is published in D.Z. Valeev’s book called “Spiritual heritage of the Bashkirs from Argayashskiy District” (1996) by M.S. Alkin. According to legend, the origin of “S.­b.” is connected with the historical events that relate to the Siberia khanate invasion of the Bashkir lands. Batyr Sukan gathered an army and repelled the invasion of the conquerors. Sesens composed the kubair about the batyr’s victory and titled it with his name. The melody is narrative and resembles marching. It is based on the sounds of a major pentatonic. It can be characterized by the absence of ornamentation. The ascending quart and quint leaps bring the chant a warlike nature.

E.A. Akhmetshina