26
Theory: what folk songs are
Textbook: Part 2, pp. 27–30
GoalUnderstand the theory of folk songs: the refrain and how they differ from written-literature songs.
New words
refrain · naqoratcouplet/verse unit · baytoral creativity · og‘zaki ijodwritten literature · yozma adabiyot
Explanation
Folk songs have their own features. First, they are created orally and exist in many variants: every performer may change them. Second, they contain a refrain (naqorat) — a part repeated after each stanza; it gives the song melody and unity. Third, the language is simple, lively and its imagery comes from the people’s life. Songs in written literature are made by a specific poet, the author is known and the text stays fixed (for example Turob To‘la’s poems that became songs). Folk songs are often built from stanzas of two or four lines. They preserve the people’s dreams, labour and customs and pass them on to young people.
Worked examples
Example — refrain: in a children’s game song a part like “hey-hey” repeated at the end of every stanza is a refrain (this is our own example).
Example — difference: “Boychechak” is a folk song of unknown authorship; “Sumbula” is Turob To‘la’s poem — a song of written literature.
Class activity
“Hunting the refrain”: the teacher sings or plays a simple song; pupils find the repeated part and clap its rhythm.
Practice
1
What is a refrain?
The part of a song repeated after each stanza.
2
What is the main difference between a folk song and a poet’s song?
A folk song’s author is unknown and it has variants; a poet’s song has a known author and a fixed text.
3
Which is a written-literature song: “Boychechak” or “Sumbula”?
“Sumbula” (a poem by Turob To‘la).
4
Why do folk songs live in several variants?
Because they are performed orally and every performer adds his own tune and words.