THE TEKES LAND IS PLAIN
Description: Toktobek Zholdoshev recounts an episode from his youth, when an Oirat-Kalmyk man from Tekes, in China’s Xinjiang Province, once arrived in their village of Chelpek. The man, whose name was Kadyr, remained in Chelpek, where he lived and worked until his death. Zholdoshev recalls that he and Kadyr communicated frequently and fluently in the Oirat-Kalmyk language. Kadyr deeply missed his homeland and would often sing a song about the land and people of the Tekes Valley. Zholdoshev then performs a fragment of this song in the Kalmyk language, followed by his own translation into Kyrgyz.
Cite as: Tékɪs gidɪ́g tegšé ɣazýr – The Tekes land is plain; performer: Toktobek Zholdoshev, camera/ interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID-number: sart1247KGV0008a.
THEY PLAY THE SAVARDAN AND A PRETTY GIRL DANCES
Description: Duishokan Torbatova shares memories of the dances and songs performed by her parents and their contemporaries. One of the most prominent dances was “The Lame Magpie”. Torbatova recites the lyrics that accompanied the dance, in which the name of an Oirat dance known as Savardan is also mentioned. In addition, Torbatova presents excerpts from the lyrics of three songs, two of which were recorded in previous years by researchers of language and folklore, including A. Burdukov, D. Pavlov, B. Menyaev, B. Borlykova, and others.
Cite as: Sävɪrdɪ́ŋge čokná, säähɪ́n küükɪ́n biilnä́ – They play the savardan and a pretty girl dances; performer: Duishokan Torbatova, camera: Thede Kahl, interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID-number: sart1247KGV0011a.
LOOKS LIKE A CHICKEN, SITS LIKE A CAT
Description: Musabek Imankulov and Turdubek Kokbaev from the village of Chelpek provide examples of Kalmyk proverbs and riddles, along with explanatory commentary. A third interview participant, Marsel Islamov, who remains off camera, also offers his insights. In total, six proverbs and one riddle were recorded from the aforementioned informants. Some of the proverbs cited in the interview are identical to those previously documented among the Karakol Kalmyks in earlier years by scholars such as Prof. Dordzhi Pavlov, Dr. Badma Menyaev and others.
Cite as: Takán bäädɪltä́, miišín suudyltá – Looks like a chicken, sits like a cat; performers: Musabek Imankulov, Turdubek Kokbaev, Marsel Islamov, camera: Thede Kahl, interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID-number: sart1247KGV0002a.
WHAT A TIME AND PEOPLE THERE WERE
Description: Reflecting on the past, Toktobek Zholdoshev speaks with emotion about the dances performed by his parents’ generation, which were generally referred to as "Kalmak bi" ("Kalmyk dance"). In addition to describing the dance known as "The lame magpie", Zholdoshev provides an account of a dance involving porcelain bowls. When asked about performers who played melodies on the tovshuur, he notes that the tradition of playing this instrument has disappeared among the Karakol Kalmyks. Nevertheless, he remembers this two-stringed instrument from his younger years.
Cite as: Häärɪ́n zamán, häärɪ́n delkä́ – What a time and people there were; performer: Toktobek Zholdoshev, camera/ interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID-number: sart1247KGV0009a.
IT WAS GOOD IN FORMER TIMES
Description: Reflecting on past life, she describes the wishes traditionally expressed to a bride during the wedding celebration, as well as the food with which the Kalmyks would treat their guests. One of the traditional dishes was the meat soup budan. Speaking further about traditional livestock, Torbatova notes that the Karakol Kalmyks, being Muslims, neither raise pigs nor consume pork.
Cite as: Uralán sän bilä́ – It was good in former times; performer: Duishokan Torbatova, camera: Thede Kahl, interview/ transcription/ translation/ editor: Chingis Azydov, retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID number: sart1247KGV0012a.