UIL

“UIL”, is a Bashkir ethnic song, uzun-kuy. The melody was registered by I.V. Saltykov in the 1920’s. It is a part of the “Bashkir melodies” handwritten collection (also known as “Collection № 2”; it is in the folklore cabinet of USIA), the lyrics were registered by A.I. Kharisov from S.S. Sharifullin in 1946 in Ilishevskiy District BASSR and published in “Bashkir ethnic art” (1st v., 1954). The song is lyroepic. “U.” origin is associated with Bashkir military service on the Orenburgskaya line. The lyrics reflect the longing of Bashkir soldiers for their native lands. “U.” melody has a wide range (twelfth) and wide chants as well as rich ornamentation. The smooth and gradual development of the melody makes the dominating feeling of hopelessness throughout the whole melody stronger. Musical adaptations of “U.” for solo and piano, a cappella choir are made by A.K. Gabdrakhmanov. The modified “U.” melody is used in the song called “About Lenin”. It was registered by L.N. Lebedinskiy from S. Kolmukhametova in 1937 in Ibrayevo village, Zianchurinskiy District, BASSR. One of the song’s variants called “She grew a willow behind the house” became a part of the “Bashkir ethnic songs” handwritten collection (also known as “Collection № 6”, written and compiled by Lebedinskiy; currently kept in the folklore cabinet of USIA).

G.Сh. Khamitova