Udmurt’s Clan Tunes: On the Issue of Identification and Reconstruction

Abstract

The research on Udmurt calendar tunes viewed in the broader cultural and historic context made it possible to raise an issue concerning the existence of relic genres, the origin of which is linked to the early forms of social organization such as clan communities. The unifying feature of these tunes, which are referred to as clan tunes in the article, is their close connection to the institute of prayers. Unlike other types of ritual tunes, in which chronotope (space and time) is sacralized, in the functioning of tribal tunes the addressee is actualized as well. They can be sung by members of local, rather small, groups or circles such as vorshud clan, village-community, social or cult association, etc.