TSPC Events

Performance Methods of Talantaaly Bakchiev, a Modern Day Manaschi

Performance Methods of Talantaaly Bakchiev, a Modern Day Manaschi

Dr. James Plumtree (American University of Central Asia)

February 27, 5pm, G24

This paper presents the first published findings of the ‘Analyzing Kyrgyz Narratives’ (AKYN) Research Group, based at the American University of Central Asia. Though Manas, a hero of Kyrgyz oral epic poetry, has been made central to post-Soviet Kyrgyz political and cultural identity, little scholarly attention is paid to contemporary performers of the epic. To address this issue, AKYN recorded three performances by the noted manaschi Talantaaly Bakchiev. Analysis of transcripts revealed the methods of his composition and highlighted compositional similarities with earlier eras of Kyrgyz oral epic poetry.

This talk is the first of a series this semester promoting research on Central Asian topics hosted by CASI/MACAS in collaboration with FYS/SYS. This study was supported through the CTLT AMICAL Consortium program enabled by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and an AUCA Faculty Research Grant.

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