Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences: Interpretation of the Buryat Heroic Epic in the Libretto of Zh. Batuev’s Ballets “Geser” and “The Son of the Earth”

Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / Interpretation of the Buryat Heroic Epic in the Libretto of Zh. Batuev’s Ballets “Geser” and “The Son of the Earth”

Issue: Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2016 9 (1)
Authors: Kolpetskaia, Olga Iu.
Contact information: Kolpetskaia, Olga Iu.:Krasnoyarsk State Institute of Art, 22 Lenin Str., Krasnoyarsk, 660049, Russia; E-mail:
Keywords: Buryat heroic Epic of King Geser; shaman mythology; libretto interpretation; ballet; Zhigzhit Batuev; Namzhil Baldano
Abstract: This paper examines examples of professional choreographic art of Buryatia – Zhigzhit Batuev’s ballets “Geser” (1967) and “The Son of the Earth” (1972), created on the basis of national heroic epic (üliger). Connecting traditional methods of historical musicology with the techniques of literary analysis comprise a comprehensive approach to the study of folk and professional art. Comparison of the folklore source based on realizing shamanic mythology’s plot motifs and images with the text of the libretto helped the researcher to identify the main stages in the dramatic development of ballets and reveal the specifics of the interpretation of national heroic and archaic epic in musical stage productions
Pages: 184-193
Paper at repository of SibFU: https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/20021