Winter ritual folk songs of the macrogroup ‹V55,р4› with the reduced refrain «Oi dai, Bozhe» within the basins of the Dniester and Tisza

Abstract

The article deals with the local phenomenon of transformation of the refrains «Oi Dai, Bozhe» in winter ritual songs of the macrofamily ‹V55,p4› (term by I. Klimenko). In the Upper Dniester and Upper Tisza basins, researchers often recorded winter ritual songs with a shortened (reduced) refrain. The aim of this study was to identify different types of reduction of the refrain «Oi Dai, Bozhe» in winter ritual songs ‹V55,p4› and their mapping; as well as the formulation of the alleged causes of these processes. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were solved: available printed and sound sources with a transformed refrain in carols were selected; transcribed audio recordings; the types of transformations are indicated in comparison with the classical form ‹V55,p4›; the influence of changes on the logic of melodic development is revealed; varieties of structural changes have been mapped; the possible causes of these phenomena are formulated.Research results. Methods of refrain reduction are found mainly among the single-line carols of the form ‹V55,p4›. The types of transformations are divided into two groups: carols with reduction of only the verbal component (with preservation of the musical time) and carols, where the «loss» of syllables is accompanied by a reduction in the musical time. Among the examples of the first group, the most common abbreviation of the third syllable «Bo» or the first three syllables «Oi Dai, Bo». One of the reasons for the reduction of the third syllable «Bo» in the refrain «Oi Dai, Bo» is covered in illogical phrasing (K. Kvitka's term) – before the last syllable «same» the performers take a breath. The first three syllables «drop out» most often in examples with instrumental accompaniment. Thus, an instrumental part (mainly a violin) fills in the missing melodic line. Among the winter ritual songs of the second group, the first three syllabochrons are reduced. This group of winter ritual songs is recorded only in vocal performance.The main feature of the winter ritual songs of both groups was the change in form, which could be written with the formula ‹V55,p4›: the line begins with a refrain and ends with a verse. This entailed a change in the melodic contour.The central area of distribution of the reduced refrains are the regions of Hutsul and Pokuttya, as well as partly of the Maramoros region, Boykivshchyna and the Podillya region of the Dniester. On the basis of the available materials, it is too early to speak about the microzoning of the studied phenomena. Winter ritual songs of both groups coexist on one rather vast territory.