Lessons 1–2 · 2 lessons · S. Olim, S. Ahmedov, R. Qo‘chqorov. Literature, Grade 8: textbook-collection, Parts 1 and 2. G‘afur G‘ulom publishing-printing creative house, Tashkent, 2014 (revised third edition)
2
About the dastan “Kuntug‘mish”
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 9–13
GoalKnow the ideas of folk dastan tradition, bakhshi and variant, and recognise the main characters of “Kuntug‘mish”.
New words
folk epic (dastan) · dostonbakhshi (singer-poet of dastans) · baxshiversion of a work · variantdombra (two-stringed instrument) · do‘mbira
Explanation
Folk dastans mirror a people’s history, customs and values. A bakhshi sings them to the dombra, and they have passed by mouth from generation to generation. For this reason a master–pupil tradition arose, and big dastan schools took shape in the 15th–16th centuries. Because one dastan was recorded from many singers it has versions: “Kuntug‘mish” exists in the versions of Ergash Jumanbulbul o‘g‘li, Bekmurod Jo‘raboy o‘g‘li, Nurmon Abduvoy o‘g‘li and Egamberdi Ollamurod, and the textbook is based on the first. The tradition lives today: bakhshis perform in concert halls and on television, and in 2000 the thousandth anniversary of “Alpomish” was widely celebrated.
Worked examples
Example: when two players perform the same tune, the notes match but the colouring differs; versions sung by different bakhshis likewise share the main plot but differ in wording and ornament.
Example: in “Kuntug‘mish” the prince Kuntug‘mish is the only son of the king of No‘g‘ay, Xolbeka is the daughter of Zangar’s vizier Shoir, Buvraxon is the king of Zangar, Azbarxo‘ja is a caravan leader, and Gurkiboy and Mohiboy are the twin sons of Kuntug‘mish and Xolbeka.
Class activity
Draw four columns in your notebook: hero, land, who he or she is, role in the dastan. Fill them in for Kuntug‘mish, Xolbeka, Buvraxon and Azbarxo‘ja.
Practice
1
Who is a bakhshi and how does he perform a dastan?
A folk singer-poet of dastans; he performs the dastan to the dombra, partly told and partly sung.
2
Why does a dastan have many versions?
Because it was told orally and each bakhshi changed it a little according to his talent, and it was later recorded from different singers.
3
Whose version is the textbook’s “Kuntug‘mish” based on?
The version told by Ergash Jumanbulbul o‘g‘li.
4
Why do you think the dastan tradition still lives today?
Because the dastan keeps the people’s spirit and values; bakhshis bring it to the young on new stages.