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Duma

Epic and Heroic Narrative

A duma is an oral epic poem that originated in Ukraine during the Cossack era, possibly based on earlier Kyivan epic forms. Historically, dumy were performed by itinerant Cossack bards called kobzari, who accompanied themselves on a kobza or bandura and were often blind, or by lirnyks, players of the lira, a Ukrainian variety of hurdy-gurdy. Dumas are sung in recitative, in the so-called duma mode, a variety of the Dorian mode with a raised fourth degree.

Facts
Place of Origin
Ukraine 1
Notable Example
Duma of Cossack Holota 1
Defining Trait
Sung in recitative in the duma mode, a Dorian mode with a raised fourth degree 1
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Duma (epic) - Wikipedia
  • Lead section, paragraph 1
    A Duma (Ukrainian: дума, plural dumy) is an oral epic poem which originated in Ukraine during the Cossack era.
  • Notable Dumas section
    Duma of Cossack Holota (Ukrainian: Дума про козака Голоту), earliest fully recorded Ukrainian duma, whose text was published in 1684
  • Structure and classification section
    Dumas are sung in recitative, in the so-called 'duma mode', a variety of the Dorian mode with a raised fourth degree.
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