URAL

“URAL”, the Bashkir ethnic song, uzun-kyuy. The song was first recorded by M.A. Burangulov in 1915, published in the Bashkort Khalk Yirdary digest recorded by H.F. Akhmetov. Lyric and epic song. In the song, the Ural image symbolizes the Motherland. According to the legend, the emergence of U. goes back to the 14th – mid. 16th centuries. The song reflects historical events related to the formation of the Union of the Seven Bashk. Tribes, hence its first name – Ete Yryu (Seven Genera, or Semirod). During the colonization of the region in the period of Bashkir Uprisings of the 17–18th centuries, the leading theme of U. was the protection of the native land and glorification of the nameless batyrs, while the main leitmotif was the call to fight against colonial and social oppression. The tune is characterized by a wide range (duodecimo tone), slow tempo and rich ornamental inter-syllable chants. The U. arrangements were made by Kh.F. Akhmetov, A.T. Karimov for voice and piano, and G.Z. Suleymanov for kuray. The song was used by N.A. Dautov in the Songs of My People vocal and symph. cycle; the melody – by Z.G. Ismagilov in Overture to the two Bashk. folk songs and the Ambassadors of Ural opera, by A.S. Klyucharev in the Ural musical film, by M.M. Valeyev in the Legend mus. work for symph. orchestra, by Kh.F. Akhmetov and R.A. Murtazin in music to the Soviet Bashkiria doc. film. The theme of the U. melody is used in the state anthem. There are variants of the song under the name Drevny Ural, Starinny Ural, and Short Ural Chant, which are performed on various texts and chants in the khalmak‑kyuy and uzun-kyuy melodic styles.

G.Сh. Khamitova