Ukrainian Minstrels: Why the Blind Should Sing

The blind mendicant in Ukrainian folk tradition is a little-known social order, but an important one. The singers of Ukrainian epics, these minstrels were organized into professional guilds that set standards for training and performance. Repressed during the Stalin era, this is their story.

Autorentext

Natalie O. Kononenko

Inhalt
Preface; Part 1. Ukrainian Minstrelsy 1. The Singers 2. The Traditional Repertory: An Overview 3. Common Stereotypes of Minstrels 4. Blindness 5. Minstrel Institutions: The Brotherhoods or Guilds 6. Apprenticeship, Training, and Initiation 7. Learning Minstrel Songs 8. Minstrel Guilds and the Orthodox Church 9. Minstrelsy and Martyrdom: The Influence of Religious Song on the Epic 10. Epic and Lament: The Influence of Kobzari on Lirnyky; Conclusion; Part 2. Minstrel Rites and Songs; Texts: A Religious Festival; The Minstrel Initiation Rite; Songs: The Begging Song and the Song of Gratitude; The Begging Song of a Lirnyk; As sung by Lirnyk Mykolai Doroshenko; As sung by Kobzar Pavlo Hashchenko; Religious Songs: Lazarus; Saint Barbara; The Passion of Christ; Guardian Angel; The Prodigal Son; The Hermit and Paraskovia Friday; Justice; Misery; The Orphan Girl; Misfortune; Epics (Dumy): Duma about the Storm on the Black Sea; The Escape of Three Brothers from Azov; Kanivchenko; Marusia Bohuslavka; About the Widow and Her Three Sons; The Stepfather; Historical Songs: The Dying Cossack and His Horse; Baida; Satirical Songs: The Noblewoman; Khoma and Iarema; Secret Songs: Zhachka; Bibliographic Essay