ANCIENT MINSTRELSIES OF GILYAK TRIBES
(1946)

 

Group of Nivkh (Gilyak) people from the early 1900's

The Nivkhs (or Gilyaks) are an indigenous people inhabiting the region of the Amur River estuary (Russia) and on nearby Sakhalin Island. They numbered about 4,600 in the late 20th century. Most speak Russian, though about 10 percent still speak the Nivkh language.

Starting in 1940, Ifukube began survey of Nivkh music in Sapporo. He recorded as many Nivkh songs as he could gather and wrote them in music notation.

Ancient Minstrelsies of Gilyak Tribes was composed based on the material Ifukube had collected. He translated the oral lyrics into Japanese and composed the individual songs of the piece based on his impressions of the original music.

Ancient Minstrelsies of Gilyak Tribes was originally written as a chamber work for soprano and piano. In 1984, four of Ifukube's former students, Yasushi Akutagawa, Teizo Matsumura, Toshiro Mayuzumi and Sei Ikeno, arranged the work for a full orchestra.

Ancient Minstrelsies of Gilyak Tribes consists of four movements. They are:

First movement: "Ai ai gomteira"

Second Movement: "Peach Picking Woman's Song"

Third movement: "The River over there"

Fourth movement: "Song of Those Going to the Bear Sacrifice Ceremony"

 

Nivkh (Gilyak) man

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Copyright 2009 Erik Homenick. All rights reserved.