Dzlieva Dz.M. Ossetian Myth-Religious Songs in Honor of Alardy |
Ossetic folk calendar is a complex system for counting and regulating year period. One of the most revered among all Ossetic folk calendar holidays, is the one honoring the patron of smallpox, measles and eye diseases – Alardy. Rather good preservation of the musical component of the cult may account for its popularity. According to our informants, the obligatory attribute of rituals in honor of the patron of smallpox was the performance of the songs "Alardyan zaræg" (Songs honoring Alardy). Sources for the study were the collections of "Iron Adæmon Sfældystad", "Ossetic Folk Art Monuments", as well as materials from the V.I. Abaev NOIHSS VSC Scientific Archive and our own field researches. The musical material "Alardyæn zaræg" is fairly well represented in the V.I. Abaev NOIHSS VSC Scientific Archive and personal author’s audio-fund. The study analyzed more than 20 samples of songs in honor of Alardy. Poetic features of the texts are revealed, special attention is paid to the harmonic and melodic features of the songs. General observations relate to the dynamics of historical development associated with the extinction of the cult and the loss of contexts for the performance of ritual songs. Analysis of the musical component of the Alardy cult, which reflects the ancient religious beliefs and beliefs of the people, makes it possible to conclude that the body of songs in honor of this patron, in the past consisted of three typological groups performed in various ritual contexts. However, over time, the cult of the Ossetic patron of smallpox gradually faded away, and therefore healing songs and songs performed by women, in honor of Alardy during the Tulanta rite completely disappeared. Keywords: musical folklore, Ossetic folk calendar, ceremonial songs, Alardy, Ossetic ethnomusicology
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