Shalakho
 Shalakho dance performed by an Armenian dance ensemble "Masis", based in Argentina | |
| Native name | Armenian: շալախո or շալախոյ Azerbaijani: Şalaxo, Şələqoy or Şələküm Georgian: შალახო or კინტოური |
|---|---|
| Etymology | Unknown |
| Genre | Folk dance |
| Time signature | 6 8 |
| Tempo | allegretto |
| Instrument(s) | barrel organ, clarinet, accordion, garmon, duduk, balaban, zurna |
| Inventor | Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Mountain Jews, Ossetians, Udins, Yazidis |
| Origin | Caucasus |
| Related dances | Kintouri (Georgia)
|
Shalakho (/ʃæləˈkoʊ/ sha-luh-KHAW; Armenian: շալախո, romanized: Shalakho or Armenian: շալախոյ, romanized: Shalakhoi; Azerbaijani: Şalaxo; pronounced [ʃɑɫɑχˈɔ] ⓘ, Şələxo; pronounced [ʃæɫæχˈɔ] ⓘ, Şələqoy; pronounced [ʃæɫæˈɡoj] ⓘ or Şələküm; pronounced [ʃæɫæˈcym] ⓘ; Georgian: შალახო, romanized: Shalakho or Georgian: კინტოური, romanized: K'int'ouri) is a folk dance performed throughout all of the Caucasus and by Azerbaijanis in Iğdır.[citation needed] It's characterized by its 6
8 time signature and fast-paced, upbeat style.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Name
[edit]- Azerbaijani composer Afrasiyab Badalbeyli, in his Explanatory Monographic Musical Dictionary (Azerbaijani: İzahlı Monoqrafik musiqi lüğəti) derives the term Shalakho from Shalakum (Azerbaijani: Şələküm), which is an elision of the phrase shala yukum (Azerbaijani: şələ yüküm, lit. '(my) heavy load').[5]
- Azerbaijani philologist Aliheydar Orucov in his Explanatory Dictionary of Azerbaijani Language (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Dilinin İzahlı Lüğəti) marks the word as a Georgian loanword.[4]
- For the name Shalaqoy (Azerbaijani: Şələqoy) compare Azerbaijani phrase shalani qoy, gal doyushak (Azerbaijani: şələni qoy, gəl döyüşək, lit. 'put your burden, let's fight'), which could have influenced it.[7]
- Aynur Talıbova, in her Get Closer To Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycana daha yaxın olaq) links the name Shalakho to the moment where clowns and entertainers in Zaqatala would put a piece of wood on an animal's back during their performance, thus alluding to a bundle of logs, then singing a song where lyrics contained multiple use of the word shala (Azerbaijani: şələ, lit. 'a burden, load') giving its name to the dance.[6]
- Per Karine Hayrapetyan, from Pan-Armenian International Academy of Sciences the name Shalakho derives from Shalakhoi (Armenian: Շալախոյ, romanized: Shalakhoi) with the y-semi-vowel falling. She further links it to the Armenian totems and the Shirak Plain.[8] Additionaly, she draws a parallel between the name and the word shalax (Armenian: շալախ, lit. 'apricot, precocious').[8]
- In Georgian the term Kintouri (Georgian: კინტოური, romanized: K'int'ouri) derives from kinto (Georgian: კინტო, romanized: K'int'o), the entertainers who lived in Tbilisi. The term is used interchangeably with Shalakho (Georgian: შალახო, romanized: Shalakho).
History
[edit]Origin and popularity
[edit]
Early history of the Shalakho dance is associated with entertainers and clowns which would travel from villages to villages in the Caucasus (some of which were mainly staying in Tbilisi) and perform this dance to the accompaniment of duduk and barrel organ.[9] Additionally, they would bring animals for the performances, e.g. bears or monkeys.[5][6] These performers were not necessarily of Georgian origin, as some were of Romani origin, too.[6]
In records
[edit]The melody was first recorded and arranged for piano by the Armenian composer Nikoghayos Tigranyan in 1895.[10]
In 1937, Azerbaijani composer Said Rustamov would publish the notation of the Shalakho dance in his Azerbaijani Dance Melodies[11]
The dance was performed in a 1940 Azerbaijani ballet Maiden Tower by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli.[12] In 1942, it was performed in an Armenian ballet called Gayane by Aram Khachaturian.[13]
- Music Notations
-
Notation of the dance from Said Rustamov's «Azerbaijani Dance Melodies» (Baku, 1937) -
Notation of the dance in Tatul Altunyan's «Armenian folk dances and melodies» (Yerevan, 1958) -
Notation of the dance from «Azerbaijani Folk Dances» (Baku, 2002)
Performance
[edit]In a broadly spread version, two men dance in order to win the favour of a woman. The dance can be performed by one or more dancers, men or women, in a free, Caucasian style of performance. Motions of women can be slow and lyrical. Music of the dance is rapid, which is reflected in the expansive and energetic motions of men.[1]
See also
[edit]- Lezginka, a common name for Caucasian dances.
- Uzundara, a dance performed by Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Katherine St. John; Lloyd Miller; Mahera Harouny (1987). Radif-e raqs: collection of dance sequences of the Persian tradition. — Society for Preservation and Propagation of Eastern Arts.
SHALAKHO is a 6/8 dance popular throughout the Caucasus. The folk versions varied, in some areas being a woman’s solo dance, and in others a man's solo. The most well known stage version depicts two men competing for a woman's favors. It can be performed with one or more dancers, male or female, dancing freestyle in the Caucasian manner. The movements for women can be soft and lyrical, and include little grapevine steps and hand gestures typical of the solo dance. The actual music is fast and spirited, and the male dancing reflects this, being expansive and vigorous.
- ^ Ճէրէճեան, Գնէլ; Կ. Տօնիկեան, Փարամազ; Տէր Խաչատուրեան, Արտաշէս (1992). Հայոց լեզուի նոր բառարան [Armenian Language's New Dictionary] (in Armenian). Beirut: Կ. Տօնիկեան եւ Որդիք Հրատարակչատուն. p. 422.
1. կովկասեան արագ պարի տեսակ մը:
2. ասոր պարեղանակը:
[1. a type of Caucasian fast dance.
2. an Assyrian dance style.] - ^ ელერდაშვილმა, ალექსანდრე (2006). უნივერსალური ენციკლოპედიური ლექსიკონი [Universal Encyclopedic Dictionary] (in Georgian). Tbilisi: ფანტაზია (Fantasia).
იუმორისტული ხასიათის ქალაქური ცეკვა;
სრულდება მამაკაცთა მიერ.
[A humorous urban dance.
It is performed by men.] - ^ a b Orucov, Əliyehdər (1966). Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti [Azerbaijani Language's Explanatory Dictionary] (in Azerbaijani). Vol. 4. Baku: Şərq-Qərb. p. 188. ISBN 978-9952-34-023-5.
ŞALAXO is. [gürc. ] İti oynanılan şən oyun havası.
[SHALAKHO noun [georgian borrowing] Cheerful dance tune which is performed rapidly.] - ^ a b c Bedelbeyli, Afrasiyab (1969). "ŞALAXO". İzahlı Monoqrafik Musiqi Lüğəti [Explanatory Monographic Musical Dictionary] (in Azerbaijani). Azerbaijani SSR: Elm.
Şalaxo
– Azərbaycan xalq oyun havası. Sözün etimologiyası bu şən, nəşəli və qıvraq rəqs musiqisinin mənşəyini aydın surətdə bəlliləşdirir: Şalaxo – şələküm (daha doğrusu, şələ yüküm) sözünün illər ərzində çox işlədilərək təhəvvül və təhrif olunmuş bəsit şəklidir.
Hələ qədim zamanlardan bəri, azəri xalq oyunbaz və masqaraçıları, o cümlədən ayı və ya meymunoynadanlar şəhər və kəndləri gəzərək heyvanlarına öyrətdikləri müxtəlif hərəkətləri tamaşaçılar qarşısında nümayiş etdirmişlər. Bütün bu tamaşa ayı ya da meymunoynadanın çahargah muğamı kökündə avaz ilə oxuduğu mahnısı ilə müşayiət edilmişdir. Sonralar bu mahnı sazəndələrin nəzər – diqqətini cəlb etmiş, onlar əsil virtuoz musiqi tərzində işləmiş və bizə məlum “Şalaxo” oyun havasını yaratmışlar.
[SHALAKHO
— Azerbaijani folk dance tune. The etymology of this word directly makes clear the origin of this lively, cheerful and agile dance: Shalakho is a simplified form of shalakum (to be more precise, shala yukum), which has evolved and has been getting distorted in the course of years being used a lot.
Since ancient times, Azeri folk entertainers and clowns, including bear and monkey entertainers, toured cities and villages and demonstrated various actions they taught their animals to the audience. All this performance was accompanied by a song sung by a bear or a monkey in the root of Chahargah mugam. Later, this song attracted the attention of musicians, who worked in a truly virtuoso musical style and created the atmosphere of the Shalakho play known to us.]
- ^ a b c d Talıbova, Aynur (2009). "Zaqatala". Azərbaycana Daha Yaxın Olaq [Get Closer To Azerbaijan] (in Azerbaijani). Translated by Bragner, Robert; Ay, Dilek. Istanbul: Bakcell. p. 209. ISBN 978-9952-8008-1-4.
Bu, Zaqafqaziyada genis yayılmış, toylarda ən sevilən və ən qədim kişi rəqslərindəndir. Yaranma tarixi maraqlıdır. Keçmişdə kənd-kənd dolasan qaraçılar ayı və meymun gəzdirər, camaatın qarşısında onları oynadardılar. Heyvanları gəzdirən qaraçının qaval cala-çala oxuduğu yeknəsəq, sadə bir melodiya ahəngində ayı ya da meymun hoppanar, mayallaq vurar, oynardı. Bələdçi qaraçı onun kürəyinə bir agac parçası qoyardı. Guya ki, bir şələ çırpı yükləyib, işarə edərdi ki, tamaşaçıların qabağından keçsin. Özü isə oxuyardı. Oxunan mahnıda tez-tez "şələ" sözündən istifadə edilərdi ki, "şalaxo" sozü də bu kökdən törəyib. Xalq arasında "şələxo" deyirlər. Şalaxonu eyni vaxtda 2-3 adam oynayır, lakin onlardan birinin ifa etdiyi rəqsin şəkli digərinə oxşamır. Burada əsasən oynayanlar arasında bacarıq, məharət, ifa texnikası yarışı gedir.
[This is the oldest and best loved men's dance at weddings and is widespread across the Caucasus. It has an interesting history. Gypsies travelled around the villages and took with them monkeys and bears to put on shows for the local people. To the accompaniment of a simple melody on the tambourine the animals jumped, leapt and performed cartwheels and somersaults. The owner put a piece of wood on the back of the animal symbolizing a bundle of logs and ordered it to appear before the spectators. The word "shala" (Azerbaijani for "a burden, load") could often be heard in this song which led to the word "shalaxo". Popularly pronounced as "şələxo". Two to three people dance "shalaxo" at the same time but each of them performs a different dance. The dancers compete in skill, technique and artistry.]
- ^ Orucov, Əliyehdər (1966). Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti [Azerbaijani Language's Explanatory Dictionary] (in Azerbaijani). Vol. 4. Baku: Şərq-Qərb. p. 208. ISBN 978-9952-34-023-5.
Şələni qoy, gəl dalaşaq (döyüşək) — heç bir səbəb olmadan dalaşmağa can atan adam haqqında.
[Put your burden, let's quarell (fight) — about a person who eagerly picks a fight or quarells without any reason.] - ^ a b Հայրապետյան, Կարինե (June 2017). "Հայոց պար/ Շալախո պարանունը Շալախոյ կամ Շարախայ անունն է, Շարայի դաշտավայրի Խոյ" [Armenian Dance/ The patronymic Shalakho is the name Shalakhoi or Sharakhai, the Ram of the Shara valley]. Wix (in Armenian). Retrieved January 3, 2025.
«Շալախոյ» ծիսական պարը կամ անունը գաղափարախոսություն է, այն ամփոփում է մի քանի դիցական գաղափարների միասնություն: Քանի որ պարը ծես եւ հանդիսություն է, ապա մեր դիցերը հանդես են եկել տոտեմներով: Շալախոյ պարը մի շարք տոտեմների միասնական ծիսակարգ պար է. Շահ առյուծի եւ խոյի, ցուլի, արտի արեւակիր տոտեմ խորհուրդների: Շալախո-ն Շալախոյ բառն է, յ-կիսաձայնի անկումով:
[The ritual dance or name "Shalakhoy" is an ideology, it summarizes the unity of several mythological ideas. Since the dance is a ritual and a celebration, our mythologists came up with totems. The Shalakhoy dance is a unified ritual dance of a number of totems: the sun-bearing totem councils of the lion and the ram, bull, and field. Shalakho is the word Shalakhoy, with the y-semi-vowel falling.]Շալախո եզրաբառը հայերենում նշանակում է վաղահաս, կանխահաս. հայերենում Կարմիր ծիրանին ասում են շալախ ծիրան, շալախ են ասում սեխին, որը հայերենում ունի նաեւ շամամ անունը:
[The term shalakho in Armenian means early, premature. In Armenian, the Red Apricot is called shalakh apricot, and the melon is called shalak, which in Armenian also has the name shamam.] - ^ აბაშიძე, ირაკლი (2002). ენციკლოპედია „თბილისი“ [Encyclopedia "Tbilisi"] (in Georgian). Tbilisi.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Khachaturian, J. (1982). "SHALAKHO". Հայկական սովետական հանրագիտարան [Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia] (in Armenian). Vol. 8. Erevan: Hakob Megapart Printing House. p. 413. Archived from the original on 2021-05-01.
- ^ Rustamov, Said (1937). Azərbaycan xalq rəqsləri [Azerbaijani Folk Melodies] (in Azerbaijani). Baku, Azerbaijani SSR: Azərnəşr. pp. 21–22.
- ^ Микеладзе, Галина (13 June 2009). "Композитор, дирижер, музыковед, публицист" [Composer, conductor, musicologist, publicist] (in Russian). Каспий.
– Бадалбейли в своем балете свободно развил композиторскую мысль и в то же время любовно и бережно использовал красоты народных мелодий. Особенной свежестью выделяются такие народные мелодии, как «Шалахо», «Ай бери бах», на основе которых созданы эмоционально насыщенные танцы…
[– Badalbeyli freely developed the composer’s idea in his ballet and at the same time lovingly and carefully used the beauty of folk melodies. Such folk melodies as “Shalakho”, “Ai beri bakh” stand out for their special freshness, on the basis of which emotionally rich dances were created…] - ^ Ю. В., Келдыша (1972). История музыки народов СССР [Music history of the peoples of the USSR] (in Russian).
Genuine examples of folk music are widely represented in "Gayane": labor, comic, lyrical, heroic songs and dances. Among the folk melodies used by the composer there are such wonderful examples as "Pshati par" (in "Gathering cotton"), "Gna ari man ari" (in "Dance of the Cotton"), "Shalakho", "Uzundara" (in the fourth act), etc. ...