Georgian cuisine

The Circassian Bard of Jerash: Mastafa X'wazch

• Report rights infringement
• published: 02 Feb 2012
• views: 1574

The Art of Mastafa X'wazch, the Circassian Bard of Jerash Хъуажь Мэстафэ: Джэрэшлы адыгэ джэгуакIуэ Mastafa (Aliy Yibrehiym) X'wazch (Хъуажь Ибрэхьим и къуэ Алий и къуэ Мэстафэ) was born in Jerash (Jordan) in 1910. He was a very talented storyteller, in the best traditions of the ancient Circassian minstrels. He learned his art from various storytellers and bards in Jerash. He was much helped in his craft by his retentive memory to learn much of the oral lore that was carried by the Circassians into exile. He developed and polished a distinctive style of delivering the oral gems of yore with personal embelishments that added drama and excitement without compromising the content and purport of the tales. His repertoire included toasts, medieval tales, and traditional stories and laments. He also composed tales of his own. X'wazch died at the age of 83 in 1993. Fortunately, recordings of some of his gems have come down to us. The bard starts with a number of ancient Circassian toasts: 'Our Sweet Daughter-in-Law!' («Ди нысэ фо!»), 'Start of Ploughing Campaign Toast' («ВакIуэдэкI хъуэхъу»), 'Amisch Toast' («Амыщ хуэгъэза хъуэхъу»), 'Table Toast' («Iэнэгу хъуэхъу»). He then commences to recount 'The Tale of Gwascheghagh' («Гуащэгъагъ и таурыхъ»). Other tales include: 'The Kabardian Night Assault', 'The Tale of Andeimirqan', 'The Tale of Zekrey the Deaf's Son', 'The Story of Qayirbek', 'The Tale of Lashin', and 'Susu's Father'. Sung versions of 'The Kabardian Night Assault' and 'The Tale of Andeimirqan' are available elsewhere on this channel. Arranged by Amjad Jaimoukha Produced by Sanjalay Jaimoukha The help of Suha X'wazch is acknowledged