Jangarchi Dava Shavaliev: The Prologue to Epic Narratives Revisited

Abstract

Introduction. The article deals with the prologue to the cycle of songs recorded from jangarchi Dava Shavaliev. In 1939, the famous Mongolist A. Burdukov visited Kalmykia and recorded the epic repertoire of Dava Shavaliev that consisted of a prologue and four songs. The songs of Dava Shavaliev recorded by the scholar were not published during the latter’s lifetime. His daughter, Mongolist T. Burdukova, made a copy of her father’s manuscript (March-April 1977). Goals. The work aims to study the prologue as an important compositional part of Dava Shavaliev’s epic repertoire. Results. The latter is yet another confirmation that Kalmyk rhapsodes — when reciting the Jangar — made use of a special expositional part called the prologue (Kalm. orshl). Being a traditional epic formation characteristic of the cyclical heroic epic of Jangar, the prologue to Dava Shavaliev’s epic cycle consists of constant themes. Proceeding from his knowledge of the epic composition principles, the jangarchi builds his narratives on a certain basis comprising structural and compositional elements, such as a description of the palace; magtal (Kalm. ‘glorification’) to Lord Jangar; magtal to Queen Shavdal; ones to the warhorse and Khongor; and a description of the palace feast. The jangarchi makes extensive use of the traditional and standardized set of poetic formulas, stylistic and compositional techniques. The observance of the established tradition kept the rhapsode in a clearly delineated tunnel of an epic narrative, without hindering the emergence of individual features. The epic repertoire of jangarchi Dava Shavaliev attests to that the Jangar epic was then a living cultural phenomenon, an important link in the epic tradition developed by many generations of rhapsodes whose talents and performing skills made the heroic epic a greatest monument of the Kalmyk people’s spiritual heritage.