SQUADRON

“SQUADRON”, Bashkir ethnic song, khalmak-kuy. It was registered by G.Z. Suleymanov from Kharis Khakimov in 1929 in the 2nd Trukhmenevo village, Zilairskiy canton BASSR (now 2nd Turkmenevo, Baymakskiy District, RB). The lyrics are published in “Bashkir ethnic art” (1st v., 1954). The lyrics and noted are published in “Bashkort khalk yirdary” by K.Y. Rakhimov. The song is philosophical. It is dedicated to Bashkir soldiers who participated the Patriotic war of 1812. The lyrics show a Bashkir soldier-cavalryman’s feelings. He praises the beauty of the Urals before he has to go. The song has wide range (twelfth), ornamented chants at the end of the phrases and irregular beat; the melody is based on minor pentatonic. The smooth nature of the song and gradual melody line approaching to the climax increase the feeling of longing before separation, which is a dominate emotion of the song. I.I. Khisamutdinov made a musical adaptation of “E.” for organ, A.A. Eichenwield – for a symphonic orchestra. There are also the variants of the song known under the names: “Old squadron”, “New squadron”.