TUKHVAT-KANTОN

“TUKHVAT-KANTОN”, is a Bashkir ethnic song, uzun-kuy. First registered in 1931 in Gaitovo village, Uralskaya District by Z.S. Shakirov from I. Iskandarov. The lyrics were published in the “Bashkir ethnic art” collection (1st v., 1954), the lyrics with the notes were published in the “Songs of my people” collection (1995). The song is dramatic. It was called after Tukhvatulla Utyavov, the head of the 4th canton, who was very cruel to people. The song exposes his crimes, it wishes a fair punishment for him. There is also a legend about a Kazan merchant, father of Badri (she was one of Tukhvat-canton’s wives). He lent some goods to Bashkirs which they were not able to return. The merchant threatened them, and they killed him. Tukhvat-canton was accused of murder and exiled to Siberia. The lightly ornamented melody is based on a minor pentatonic. It has the range equal to tenth.

G.A. Ishkinina