Svan Funeral Dirges (Zär): Cultural Context

Authors : Nana MZHAVANADZE, Frank SCHERBAUM

Pages : 133-165

Doi:10.33906/musicologist.906765

View : 18 | Download : 13

Publication Date : 2021-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article is a companion paper to Scherbaum and Mzhavanadze insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2020);, Mzhavanadze and Scherbaum insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2020); and Scherbaum and Mzhavanadze insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2021);. Together they describe the results of an interdisciplinary study of the three-part funeral dirge of Svan zär insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(‘zari’ in Georgian);. In the present paper, we provide all the contextual insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ethnographic, ethnological, historical); data that we collected from various written and/or oral sources and then processed and organized in a comprehensible way to help the reader better understand this unique phenomenon. We believe that in order to help answer the basic question of ‘how zärs work,’ the results of the acoustical, musicological, and phonetic insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(as well as language-music interface); analyses in the other three articles must be interpreted through an understanding of the full context of this unique cultural behavior. Thus, not only did we collect and integrate all the related data and review the literature, but we also raise and discuss some problematic issues, such as, for example, the etymology of the term zär. We also offer an interpretation/description of some conflicting historical data to generate interest for its further research. In addition, we introduce the reader to some details of our field research insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2015, 2016);, as they may be of great importance when discussing or interpreting the results of the analyses presented in other insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(analytical); parts of this interdisciplinary study.
Keywords : Traditional Georgian vocal music, Mutipart dirge, Funerary Ritual