Abstract

This chapter lays the foundation for the rest of the book, supplying descriptions of key olonkho performance features and defining terms related to epics in general and the olonkho tradition in particular. Distinguishing between epic cycle, epic tradition, and epic tale, this chapter examines thorny questions about the historicity of olonkho, its contested connection to shamanism, and its embodiment of Sakha worldview and values. In addition to discussing interactions between the verbal and musical aspects of olonkho, this material explores the role of oral formulaic theory in understanding the emergent character of olonkho.

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