ALL
folklore poetry
ICH Elements 2
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Aitys – the art of improvisation
Aitys is a contest centred on improvised oral poetry spoken or sung to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments – the Kazakh dombra. Two performers (akyns) compete with one other to improvise verses on topical themes in a battle of wits that alternates between humorous ripostes and penetrating philosophical reflections. During the competition, the performers sit opposite one another improvising a dialogue on topics chosen by the audience. The winner is the performer considered to have demonstrated the best musical skills, rhythm, originality, resourcefulness, wisdom and wit. The most meaningful and witty expressions often become popular sayings. The element is practiced on a variety of occasions, ranging from local festivities to nationwide events, where practitioners often use the contest to raise important social issues. Although it was traditionally performed only by men, many women now participate in Aitys and use the contest to express women’s aspirations and viewpoints. Akyns compete with each other without any preparation, minutely composing poems mutual answers to questions of concern to society. Deep philosophical reflections in the witty, bubbly manner often turn into a form of poetic ridicule and criticism. Akyns compete in their resourcefulness and originality.
Kazakhstan 2015 -
Terme – song and recitative genre of Kazakh folklore
Terme (kaz. 'Collect') - recitation, musical and poetic genre of folk song creation. There is an expression "terme aitu" - to sing a recitative among the people. As a poetic-melodic speech in a piece of music, terme is very popular among the people. It is like advisory/teaching saying in a form of clearly expressed recitation. They are short and uniform in the rhythm of the melody in the form of a recitative. Poems and songs, recited in this genre, is easily remember to the mass consciousness and retrieved in memory associatively.
Kazakhstan
ICH Materials 13
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Aitysh
Aytysh is a musical and poetic competition of two akyns in the art of improvisation or verbiage. Aytysh is performed to the accompaniment of komuz. In aytysh, the intonation and improvisational tradition of performing arts is especially manifested. The competition takes place in the form of a dialogue with sparkling versification, composed and improvised during the competition on various topical topics. The themes of aytysh are multifaceted, deep reflections are expressed in them, in which sparkling humor is interspersed with philosophical generalizations.
Kyrgyzstan -
Tokmo-akyns performing _Aitysh_
Kyrgyzstan