TULGAU

TULGAU is an improvisation song consisting of tirades. Etymologically it comes from the notions “to sing” (from Yakut – “dolgokhut”) and “to think/to ponder” (from Chuvash – “tulak” – thinking). T. contains thoughts, philosophical and ethical judgements of sesen T. existed among the Turkic tribes before they consolidated into separate peoples. It had dumbyra accompaniment. Patriotic motifs and civil pathos are distinctive features of T. The content of T. highly depends on the historical circumstances of human social development. A clear example of Bashkir T. is presented in “Muyten” lore. In the time of Genghis Khan, the elders of Kuakanskiy and Usergenovskiy districts sent Muyten, Tukkhab's son with gifts to the ruler: “He saddled Argamak, / Took seven camels laden with gifts, / Left his native lands/ And went his way to Genghis Khan. / Then he gave him all the gifts... / The khan had him seated next to him/ In front of the whole mob. / Khan granted him the highest title, / All noyons, biys praised him. / He gave them advice, / He had to give them. / Even to the khan himself ”. There are also T. about a person's life, which characterize each decade cycle, e.g.: “At the age of 1 year I did not understand anything, / At ten years old I wanted nothing but to play games, / At sixty years old I was a mature wolf, / At seventy years old I was not able to chase and kill a wolf...” (T. “A man's life”). There are famous masters of the genre such as Asan Kaygy, Khabrau-yirau, Shalguz-yirau and others (see Oral literature).

F.A. Nadrshina, R.A. Sultangareyeva, G.R. Khusainova