| Popis: |
This article concentrates on the phenomenon of the individual in the ethnic culture of the Udmurt, bearing in mind that this has never been attempted before. This is a proper framework to analyse Ol’ga Solov’yova’s (1932–2018) personality, who was famous among the people as Dzhaky / Dzhakapay / Dzhaky apay (lit: Aunt Jay). A whole range of reasons justifies scientific interest in her: her huge repertoire of songs and rituals, her ability to improvise freely within her local tradition, her unique musical and auditory skills. The analysis of Dzhakapay’s character allows us to connect the songs of her repertoire and her fate. Many non-ritual songs are in fact autobiographical narratives, dedicated to reflexions on an unhappy fate, on being an orphan. A considerable number of songs in her repertoire belong to the category of so-called personal songs (in Russian: imennyye pesni, ‘name songs’), which represent a kind of personal memoire in musical form. Another unique feature of this performer’s art is her knowledge of songs from neighbouring villages in their original language (Russian, Mari, Tatar) and their translation into Udmurt. Her knowledge of the local traditional rituals made her very important to the local community, in which she was deeply respected. Until the last day of her life, she followed the ontological positions, the rules of behaviour, the canons of ritual and singing performance elaborated by tradition, and attempted to instil them into the people surrounding her. This awakened her genuine interest in the social and scientific milieu. And today, when she is no longer among us, her name is attached to many very different projects. |
