Singing the Kyrgyz Manas

Saparbek Kasmambetov's Recitations of Epic Poetry
Erscheinungsjahr 2011
ISBN: 978-1-906876-38-8
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, 134 Seiten, Format (B × H): 165 mm x 246 mm, Gewicht: 440 g

Today, the Kyrgyz Manas is one of the most celebrated epic heroic poems in the world. At the turn of the new millennium it was appointed a UNESCO 'Masterpiece in the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Mankind', signalling its global significance. It sits alongside Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, or the South Asian Mahabharata and Ramayana, although politics and language have during the twentieth century conspired against allowing it to become as well known. In contrast to previously published material, this book focuses on one septegenarian contemporary performer, Saparbek Kasmambetov who inherited the oral tradition of his culture, adding details and other elements to his storytelling, as he saw fit. Consequently, the volume does not offer a literal translation in poetic form, but is presented as a story - as originally intended; the contextual/historical account situates Soviet/Kyrgyz with Western accounts of Manas and other epic heroic poetry. Part I offers a translation of seven episodes from the Manas, as sung by Saparbek, with accompanying CDs - the translations of all the episodes being based on the recordings.
Part II comprises three chapters examining oral epic poetry and the Manas; the Kyrgyz Manas recorded, performed and studies; finally, a study of Saparbek Kasmambetov - the performer. The accompanying plates are the work of Gouljan Arslan, Saparbek Kasmambetov's granddaughter.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Weitere Mitwirkende

Howard, Keith

Kasmambetov, Saparbek

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Literaturen sonstiger Sprachräume Ural-Altaische Literaturen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of Illustrations; CD Contents; Preface; List of Contributors; PART I: Episodes from the Manas; 1 Manas is born; 2 The marriage of Manas to Kanikey is arranged; 3 The Great Battle; 4 Semetey’s childhood; 5Semetey returns to Talas; 6 The marriage of Semetey; 7 Semetey takes revenge for the death of his father, Manas; PART II: 1 Oral epic poetry and the Manas; 2 The Kyrgyz Manas: recorded, performed and studied; 3 The manasci, Saparbek Kasmambetov; References; Index

Über Autor(innen)

Keith Howard is Associate Dean Research, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney and Professor of Music, SOAS, University of London. Previously, he was Director of the AHRC Research Centre for Cross-Cultural Music and Dance Performance.