BIRD-CHERRY TREE WITH LARGE BUNCHES

“BIRD-CHERRY TREE WITH LARGE BUNCHES”, “B i r d - c h e r r y  t r e e”, “W e e p i n g b i r d -c h e r r y t r e e”, Bashkir ethnic song, kyska-kuy. The legend and instrumental variants of the song were registered by S.G. Rybakov from M. Murzagulov in 1894 in Kubagushevo village, Verkhneuralskiy District, from quaray player M. Kararayev in Tashbulatovo village, Orskiy District. They were published in “Music and songs of the Ural Muslims and their household description”; the lyrics were registered in 1937 in Askarovo village, Abzelilovskiy District BASSR from B.M. Magadeyeva, in Baymakskiy District BASSR from K. Muldakaeva. They were published in the “Bashkir ethnic art” book (1954). The song is comical and dancing. According to one of the legends told by K.M. Diyarov, the song’s origin is connected with the story happened in Bolshebasayevo village, Baymakskiy District. A young hunter promised his daughter-in-law a younger relative to marry her if one of his traps, that had been placed near Karatash mountain of the Irendyk mountain chain, would catch a wolf. The dzhigit tied his horse to a tree and chased the wounded animal. However, when he came back, he found only the gnawed bones of his horse. The dzhigit told everything to his bride with a song as he was not able to say a single word. The chant of the song covers a 4-lined stanza of the poem. It is also a period that consists of 2 repeated sentences. A regular beat and descending third and quart leaps make the melody special. M.P. Fomenkov made a musical adaptation for a mixed choir. The song’s melody was used by L.B. Stepanov, Z.G. Ismagilov in “Crane song” ballet and by M.M. Valeev and N.I. Peyko in “Aykhylyu” opera.

G.A. Ishkinina