Music of Adygea
Encyclopedia
The music of Adygea has a long history. Adygea is a republic
in Russia
. The Republic's national anthem was written by Iskhak Shumafovich Mashbash; music—by Umar Khatsitsovich Tkhabisimov.
Recorded Adygean music began prior to World War I
, when folk musicians across the North Caucasus
and Central Asia
were commercially recorded. Many of these musicians, including the Adygean Magomet Khfgfudzh, an accordion
ist, have become cultural heroes to modern inhabitants.
Adygean music is closely related to Kabardian
, Cherkess and Shapsugh music. The four groups are the main constituents of the Adiga (Circassian
) nation. In the olden days, the musical lore was preserved and disseminated by the roving minstrels (Jegwak'we).
theater. The Nalmes ensemble is a folk dance organization that has been dedicated to promoting and preserving Adygean music and dance since 1936.
The Adigean State Folk Song Ensemble ‘Yislhamiy’—‘Yislhamiy’ («Ислъамый») is one of a number of folk song groups that keep the old bard traditions alive. It boasts of a varied and rich repertoire of ancient and traditional songs. The Ensemble’s mission also includes the rearrangement of folk songs and chants into modern formats to bestow contemporary relevance on them without sacrificing their authenticity and historical value. The Ensemble displayed its artistic wares in many festivals held in countries across Europe and Asia, and made several tours in countries where Circassian diasporas are concentrated. It celebrated its 15th anniversary in January 2006. Its founder and artistic director is Aslhencheriy Nexay, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation. The choreography of the Ensemble is designed by Viktoria Yedij. The Ensemble boasts of a number of world-class singers, including Susanna X’wak’we, Shemsudin Qwmiqw, and Rim Schawe.
Aslhencheriy Nexay—Nexay, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, graduated in composition from the Tbilisi Conservatoire in 1983. He composed the first Adigean opera ‘The Sound of Distant Thunder’ and wrote a number of songs and symphonies. He founded the Adigean State Folk Song Ensemble ‘Yislhamiy’ in 1991.
Zchiw Song Ensemble—Zchiw (Жъыу; literally: Chorus) is a newly established Adigean group that utilizes ancient musical instruments (no accordion
or baraban), and plays authentic songs of the bards as they would have been heard prior to the 19th century. Its directors and principal personnel are Zamudin Ghwch’e and Zawir Neghwey, both singers of considerable talent. Neghwey also plays the shich’epshine (Circassian violin). Other singers of note include Artur Abida.
In the early 1990s a symphonic orchestra, a chamber musical theatre and a professional orchestra of folk musical instruments were set up in Adigea. In November 1994, the Chamber Musical Theatre marked its debut by staging Jacques Offenbach’s operetta Jeanne Cries, Jean Laughs. This was the first time ever that an operetta was staged in Adigea. The season ended with the ballet The Young Terpsichore performed to music by Tchaikovsky, Minkus, Saint-Saens, Bellini and Chopin. The curtain drawer of the following season was Mozart’s opera Theatre’s Director, the first professional opera to be staged by local talent. The musicians and performers were graduates of the State Theatre School, Maikop Art School, and St. Petersburg, Rostov and Tbilisi conservatoires.
The Union of Composers of the Republic of Adigea was established in 1992 under the leadership of Qaplhen Tiqwe. Member composers include Cheslav Anzeroqwe (Anzarokov), Aslhencheriy Nexay, Alla Sokolova, Bayzet Qeghezezh (Kagazezhev), Aslhen Gwt’e (Gotov), Tatyana Sukhova, and Murat X’wpe (Khupov). Their compositions and publications are detailed (in Russian) on the website of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Adigea.
Republics of Russia
The Russian Federation is divided into 83 federal subjects , 21 of which are republics. The republics represent areas of non-Russian ethnicity. The indigenous ethnic group of a republic that gives it its name is referred to as the "titular nationality"...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The Republic's national anthem was written by Iskhak Shumafovich Mashbash; music—by Umar Khatsitsovich Tkhabisimov.
Recorded Adygean music began prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when folk musicians across the North Caucasus
North Caucasus
The North Caucasus is the northern part of the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian Seas and within European Russia. The term is also used as a synonym for the North Caucasus economic region of Russia....
and Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
were commercially recorded. Many of these musicians, including the Adygean Magomet Khfgfudzh, an accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
ist, have become cultural heroes to modern inhabitants.
Adygean music is closely related to Kabardian
Kabardian
Kabardian can refer to:* Kabardian people, a people of the Northwest Caucasus* Kabardian language, their language* Kabardian , a breed originating from the same region...
, Cherkess and Shapsugh music. The four groups are the main constituents of the Adiga (Circassian
Adyghe people
The Adyghe or Adygs , also often known as Circassians or Cherkess, are in origin a North Caucasian ethnic groupwho were displaced in the course of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus in the 19th century, especially after the Russian–Circassian War of 1862.Adyghe people mostly speak Adyghe and most...
) nation. In the olden days, the musical lore was preserved and disseminated by the roving minstrels (Jegwak'we).
1990s renaissance
In recent years, Adygea has seen the formation of a number of new musical institutions. These include two orchestras, one of which (Russkaya Udal), uses folk instruments (the other is the Adygeya Republic National Symphony Orchestra), and a chamber musicChamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
theater. The Nalmes ensemble is a folk dance organization that has been dedicated to promoting and preserving Adygean music and dance since 1936.
The Adigean State Folk Song Ensemble ‘Yislhamiy’—‘Yislhamiy’ («Ислъамый») is one of a number of folk song groups that keep the old bard traditions alive. It boasts of a varied and rich repertoire of ancient and traditional songs. The Ensemble’s mission also includes the rearrangement of folk songs and chants into modern formats to bestow contemporary relevance on them without sacrificing their authenticity and historical value. The Ensemble displayed its artistic wares in many festivals held in countries across Europe and Asia, and made several tours in countries where Circassian diasporas are concentrated. It celebrated its 15th anniversary in January 2006. Its founder and artistic director is Aslhencheriy Nexay, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation. The choreography of the Ensemble is designed by Viktoria Yedij. The Ensemble boasts of a number of world-class singers, including Susanna X’wak’we, Shemsudin Qwmiqw, and Rim Schawe.
Aslhencheriy Nexay—Nexay, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, graduated in composition from the Tbilisi Conservatoire in 1983. He composed the first Adigean opera ‘The Sound of Distant Thunder’ and wrote a number of songs and symphonies. He founded the Adigean State Folk Song Ensemble ‘Yislhamiy’ in 1991.
Zchiw Song Ensemble—Zchiw (Жъыу; literally: Chorus) is a newly established Adigean group that utilizes ancient musical instruments (no accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
or baraban), and plays authentic songs of the bards as they would have been heard prior to the 19th century. Its directors and principal personnel are Zamudin Ghwch’e and Zawir Neghwey, both singers of considerable talent. Neghwey also plays the shich’epshine (Circassian violin). Other singers of note include Artur Abida.
In the early 1990s a symphonic orchestra, a chamber musical theatre and a professional orchestra of folk musical instruments were set up in Adigea. In November 1994, the Chamber Musical Theatre marked its debut by staging Jacques Offenbach’s operetta Jeanne Cries, Jean Laughs. This was the first time ever that an operetta was staged in Adigea. The season ended with the ballet The Young Terpsichore performed to music by Tchaikovsky, Minkus, Saint-Saens, Bellini and Chopin. The curtain drawer of the following season was Mozart’s opera Theatre’s Director, the first professional opera to be staged by local talent. The musicians and performers were graduates of the State Theatre School, Maikop Art School, and St. Petersburg, Rostov and Tbilisi conservatoires.
The Union of Composers of the Republic of Adigea was established in 1992 under the leadership of Qaplhen Tiqwe. Member composers include Cheslav Anzeroqwe (Anzarokov), Aslhencheriy Nexay, Alla Sokolova, Bayzet Qeghezezh (Kagazezhev), Aslhen Gwt’e (Gotov), Tatyana Sukhova, and Murat X’wpe (Khupov). Their compositions and publications are detailed (in Russian) on the website of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Adigea.
Adyghe Musical Instruments
- KamilKavalThe kaval is a chromatic end-blown flute traditionally played throughout Azerbaijan, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, southern Serbia , northern Greece , Romania , and Armenia...
- Shichepshin
- Pshina
- Pkhachich
- DoleNagara (drum)The nagara is a folk drum with double head that is played on one side with the bare hands. It is performed in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey and other Caucasus regions. It has different names, according to the territory in which it is played...
- Bjemiy
- SirinSirinSirin is a mythological creature of Russian legends, with the head and chest of a beautiful woman and the body of a bird . According to myth, the Sirins lived "in Indian lands" near Eden or around the Euphrates River....
- Psinakheb
- Psinet'arku
- Epepsin
- Pheç'iç'
- Sot'irip'
- Adige Psin
- Nakire