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Ashough Shemsir - Yaratmishunar: The Art of Lezgi Minstrel

by Ored Recordings

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about

Longread about Shemshir will out soon

After recording, ashug Shamshir offered to perform for us under more comfortable conditions and invited us to his home in the village of Avadan. We were able to record the ashug in a relaxed drinking atmosphere and to fathom the specifics of this unique art better.
Shamshir learned everything from his father - a well-known ashug from the past, Shirin. He often played in Lezghin villages and even in neighboring Azerbaijan on different celebrations and holidays. Shirin was noticed by the Soviet Ministry of culture: the narrator was recorded many times on the radio and TV, and in the 80's he performed in Paris.
Shamshir calls his ability “God's gift”, and for him it is not just a beautiful metaphor. He told us a lot about his feelings on the purpose of life, the divine beginning, and spirituality. It did not sound arrogant - it was sincere.

“You can learn to sing or to play the chungur. But learning to be an ashug, if you are not born into this position is impossible. There’s a lot of good musicians in Dagestan, and everyone claims that he’s a real ashug. Although there are so few...”

Maybe that's why there is no clear criteria for an ashug - at least Shamshir didn’t give us any. Especially when we asked him point blank. But during our conversation, he emphasized some specific things: the ashug knows how to inspire people, organize festivals, and merrymaking. He is a master of improvisation: recalls the right story just in time or finds the right words to defuse the situation or moreover - to denounce the villain. So here we have a textbook description of the authentic narrator - not just a musician, but a figure with magical abilities.

Shamshir became the central figure of the South Dagestan expedition as a single performer and a professional tradition bearer.



Sound: Timur Kodzoko,
Sound editing: Timur Kodzoko
Image: Elizaveta Wdowina
Cover art: Milana Khalilova
Notes: Bulat Khalilov
Special thanks to Shamil Sherifaliev and Alexander Efimov

Recorded in Avadan village, Dagestan
04.2016

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Полный текст об экспедиции опубликован на сайте "Ножа"

"Ашуг Шемшир - тот самый идеальный информант для придирчивого фольклориста. Сказительству он научился у отца, известного в прошлом ашуга Ширина. Тот часто играл на свадьбах и других праздниках в лезгинских аулах и даже в соседнем Азербайджане. Шерина заметили и радары советского минкульта: сказителя много писали на радио и ТВ, а в 1980-х он выступал в Париже.
Ширин серьезно воспринимал дело и передавал знания троим сыновьям. Сегодня каждый из них музыкант, но сказитель - только Шемшир.
Четких критериев настоящего ашуга Шемшир назвать не смог, но в ходе разговора кое-что вырисовалось:
Ашуг умеет увлекать людей, грамотно организует праздники и игрища. Он - мастер импровизации: вспоминает нужную историю или находит подходящее слово чтобы разрядить ситуацию или наоборот - обличить негодяя.
Получается хрестоматийное описание аутентичного сказителя: не просто музыканта, но фигуры с магическими функциями"

Запись звука: Тимур Кодзоков
Правка звука, сведение: Тимур Кодзоков
Фото: Елизавета Вдовина
Дизайн обложки: Милана Халилова.
Текст: Булат Халилов.


Отдельное спасибо за помощь в организации экспедиции Шамилю Шарифалиеву и Александру Ефимову

Записано в селе Авадан, Дагестан
04.2016

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released July 22, 2020

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Ored Recordings Düsseldorf, Germany

Traditional and local music from the Caucasus and beyond

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