Dudar Aslan, Guhalt': A New Album of Adyghe and Abkhaz National Melodies

D U D A R A S L A N

A New Album of Adyghe and Abkhaz National Melodies

July 2005

A whole new collection of Adyghean and Abkhazian melodies is out, meaning the Caucasian Musical Olimp is bestowed with a new resident - His name Aslan Dudarov. The first album, which Aslan named Guhatl’ ("Гухэлъ" -"in Heart") showed the author as a talented executor and unordinary arranger, who is never afraid to open up his heart and soul to speak through the language of national harmonika.

Aslan was born and brought up in Nalchik. With his sense of humour and open smile, he is distinguished for his love to his people and culture. Adyghean etiquette for Aslan - a norm of life, and music -the life itself.

Rich folklore, heroic epos and music accompanied Circassian history throughout centuries. And the spirit of ancestors has not disappeared- Aslan has turned all his the talents to revive it in full.

"The gene of creativity" lives in Aslan by right of succession. His grandfather, Hauti Dudarov, studied music in reknown Leningrad Conservatory, though has remained in literature encyclopedias as a famous circassian native language writer, journalist, one of the founders of satire and humour in the Kabardian literature. Aslan's Aunt - Zarema Dudar -a designer residing in Italy, his mum - Fatima Dudarova-a journalist, working in Nalchik.

Aslan has chosen musical path, having graduated from Kabardino-Balkarian Art School, majoring in folk instruments, namely, harmonica and accordeon. For a short period, Aslan worked with such famous dance groups as "Bjamiy" and "Kabardinka". Later he moved to Moscow where he became an acomponist for the dance group "Adygi" in Moscow Adyghe Culture Hase (Association).

In 2001 Aslan made up his mind to work on his own album of Circassian music. His aspirations were supported by many successful Circassians: famous lawyer Albert Kazharov, Arsen Kanokov, Murat Isakov, Muharbiy Cherkesov, Albert Nazranov.

The project has drown a great number of participants and assistants. Professionalism of the music performers- Anzor and Murat Uvizh, Zuber Ivazov, Zaur Chilov, Lebanese Circassian Blyanighap'tsa Nart, supported by many marvelous voices of Kabarda are impressing. Album cover belong to the brush of the talented Kabardian artist - Murat Dishech, Italy. Album Design - the merit of a Syrian Circassian- Yerokua Bishar.

French writer Romen Rollan named music "song of centuries and a flower of a history". One after another, Aslan's soundtracks take up back to ancient legends and tunes, heard in childhood from grandmothers.

Here invincible warrior Sosruko competes in power and dexterity with others narts, dancing on traditional Circassian tri-table – "ane аIнэ". Here Tlepsh, the master of iron, beating hammers over anvil … And light-handed Adiyuh runs down the river that echos her sad songs. And here the god of woods Mezitha blesses Badinokua to furtunate hunting.Instrumental folk tunes are echoed with music of the nature - the bird's trills, wispers of the river. Even formerly known melodies in Aslan's execution begin to sound in a whole new way, causing new associations,bringing up new images.

In total 15 compositions are presented in the album. Aslan, as a true collector of musical folklore, has addressed melodies of various tribes: from Mozdogu (Mezdegu) Kabardians to Black Sea Adygheans, not overlooking Turkish emigrants: former soloist of ensemble "Kabardinka" Bitok Anzor brought original Shapsoughian Udge Hurashe (Шапсугский удж "Хъурашэ") and Abazehian Lapelef ("Лъапэлъэф") from Turkey to Aslan, back to homeland.

We must note that Aslan's musical "know-how" is in a way a tour into the history of Circassian musical performance.

For instrance, the epigraph to the composition "Udge Hesh" ("Удж хэш") is the original music of the famous Kuratsa Chashirgh, whose accordion is exhibited in the Folklore Museum of Kabardino-Balkaria.

Thus, the album has turned out musically and artly refined. Here we will find "Kafe", and "Udge - Udzh", "Ghybza", and "Dzhag'u" in all their variety. Aslan Dudarov appeared to be not only gifted musician, but also a pleasant interlocutor.

Offical Web Site of Dudar Aslan
Russian

Гу х э л ъ

01.Мэздэгу адыгэхэм я къафэ - Mezdegu Adygehem Ya K'afe 6:43

02.Гухэлъ пшыналъэ - Guhalt' Pshinale 3.34

03.Удж пыху - Udge (Udzh) Pihu 2.52

04.Абазэ джэгу - Abaze Dzhagu 5.03 Download

05.ЗэхуэкIуэ кIыхь - Zehuakue Kih 7.01 Download

06.Лъапэлъэф (абазэхэ зэхуэкIуэ) - Lapelef 3.15

07.ЩIалэгъуалэ зэхуэкIуэ - Shaleguale Zehuakue 2.18

08.Хъурашэ (шапсыгъ удж) - Hurashe 2.48 Download

09.Сосрыкъуэ и къафэ - Sosrikue Yi K'afe 4.10

10.Гущэ - Gushe 2.54