Ukrainian Minstrels: Why the Blind Should Sing

Preface; Part 1. Ukrainian Minstrelsy 1. The Singers 2. The Traditional Repertory: An Overview 3. Common Stereotypes of Minstrels 4. Blindness 5. Minstrel Institutions: The Brotherhoods or Guilds 6. Apprenticeship, Training, and Initiation 7. Learning Minstrel Songs 8. Minstrel Guilds and the Orthodox Church 9. Minstrelsy and Martyrdom: The Influence of Religious Song on the Epic 10. Epic and Lament: The Influence of Kobzari on Lirnyky; Conclusion; Part 2. Minstrel Rites and Songs; Texts: A Religious Festival; The Minstrel Initiation Rite; Songs: The Begging Song and the Song of Gratitude; The Begging Song of a Lirnyk; As sung by Lirnyk Mykolai Doroshenko; As sung by Kobzar Pavlo Hashchenko; Religious Songs: Lazarus; Saint Barbara; The Passion of Christ; Guardian Angel; The Prodigal Son; The Hermit and Paraskovia Friday; Justice; Misery; The Orphan Girl; Misfortune; Epics (Dumy): Duma about the Storm on the Black Sea; The Escape of Three Brothers from Azov; Kanivchenko; Marusia Bohuslavka; About the Widow and Her Three Sons; The Stepfather; Historical Songs: The Dying Cossack and His Horse; Baida; Satirical Songs: The Noblewoman; Khoma and Iarema; Secret Songs: Zhachka; Bibliographic Essay