[Discussion] CONF./CFP- Epic Traditions of the Sayan-Altay People, Sept. 2005, Abakan, Russia

[gonul@pultar.org]

From: Liesbet Nyssen <lnyssen@fmg.uva.nl>

CONF./CFP- Epic Traditions of the Sayan-Altay People, Sept. 2005, Russia

Second International Symposium on the Chatkhan Zither
Abakan (Russian Federation), September 2005

The Chatkhan - Epic Traditions of the Sayan-Altay People

Call for Papers and Participation

The Second International Symposium devoted to the history and modern life of the
chatkhan (Khakas zither) will take place from September 26 to 30, 2005, in
Abakan (South Siberia, Russian Federation). The symposium is organised by the
Khakas Research Institute for Language, Literature and History and the Khakas
Republican Centre of Culture and Folk Arts. It is sponsored by the Ministry of
Culture of the Republic of Khakassia, the Khakas Research Institute of Language,
Literature and History, and the Khakas Republican Centre of Culture and Folk
Arts.

The following topics will be explored:

1. The chatkhan (chadagan, yatygan, yatagan) as an instrument representing
Khakas music traditions; its functioning and peculiarities
2. The revival of the chatkhan and its role in modern professional music
3. Modern chatkhan players and builders
4. The traditional use of the chatkhan as accompanying instrument - together
with throat singing - for heroic storytelling in the Sayan-Altay region; its
ritual and musical functions
5. Similarities and differences in the instrumental accompaniment of the epics
of the Sayan-Altay peoples
6. The significance of the chatkhan in the spiritual life of the Sayan-Altai
peoples
7. Epics as the living memory of the cultures of the Sayan-Altay peoples
8. The origin and the historical roots of the chatkhan according to modern
archaeological, folklore and chronicle data.
9. Long box zithers and half-tube zithers with movable bridges related to the
chatkhan (i.e. djatygan, chadagan, yataga, yatga, zheng, qin, kayagum, koto, dan
tranh, etc.), as used by other ethnic groups, like Turkic, Finno-Ugric,
Mongolian, Arabic, and Iranian peoples, as well as the peoples of China, Korea,
etc.
10. The role, meaning, and significance of the zither in Asian music traditions.

Besides conference sessions, participants will visit museums, archaeological
and natural sites, and experience Khakas living music traditions.

Preliminary Programme:

Monday 26 September
Arrival of participants and registration (in Abakan)

Tuesday 27 September
Opening ceremony (Abakan)
Plenary conference sessions (Abakan)
Traditional musical competition at the Music Festival "Aytys 2005"
(Troshkino, Shirinskiy Rayon, North Khakassia)

Wednesday 28 September
Plenary conference sessions (at the salt lake spa of Shira, North Khakassia)
Gala concert of the Music Festival "Aytys 2005" (Abakan)

Thursday 29 September
Opening of an exposition of Khakas musical instruments (Abakan)
Excursion to the museum "Khurtuyakh-Tas" (Askiz, Askizskiy rayon, South
Khakassia)
Excursion to the republican archaeological open-air museum (Kazanovka,
Askizskiy rayon)
"Night of the heroic epic"

Friday 30 September
Concluding conference session
Excursion to the pre-historical burial mound "Salbyk" (Ust-Abakanskiy rayon)
Departure of participants

Abstracts of up to 700 words, in Russian, English, German, or French, should be
submitted to Iraida Chertykova, symposium coordinator, by 1 September 2005.
Please mention your title, name, function, affiliation, and E-mail.

Declarations of intent to participate without formal presentation should also be
sent by 1 September 2005 in order to ease the organisation of accommodation and
excursions.

For further information and any questions please contact:
Iraida Chertykova, symposium coordinator (in Russian):

Russian Federation
660017 Abakan
Lenin prospect 76
Republican Centre of Culture and Folk Arts
Chertykovoy Iraide

Tel./Fax: +7-390-22-5-23-81

Or

Liesbet Nyssen, contact person in Europe (English, French, German):
E-mail: lnyssen@fmg.uva.nl
Tel: +31 20 525 2178
Fax: +31 20 525 3658 (till 1 September)

The conference fee is 100$. Travelling expenses are on the account of the
participant.



Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies