From time immemorial not a single Turkmen ceremony were held without participation of destanchy - performers of destans (songs). They were uniting spiritual origin, popularisers of music, popular wisdom and works of Turkmen classics. Destanchies was always honoured as a singer of people’s soul, bearer of cultural heritage.
All the velayats of our country have historically formed performance traditions of this music and epic genre. Honoured bakhshy of Turkmenistan, prize winner of “Altyn Asyr” contest Kerven Yovbasarov, mastered perfectly different techniques of performing skills, is one of the bright representatives on national school of destanchy.
Kerven was born in Gyorogly etrap of Dashoguz velayat. His love to destans was passed down from his father. Famous destanchies gathered very often in Yovbasarovs’ house. Little Kerven liked best of all performances of bakhshies during wedding ceremonies. Child hobby turned into desire to master the secrets of this art and Kerven entered regional music school. National bakhshy of Turkmenistan Hojamurat Oraev, virtuosic performer and talented educator became his first teacher.
Having graduated from musical school with honours in 1997, Kerven entered Turkmen State Conservatory to class of national bakhshy of Turkmenistan Oraznepes Dovletnazarov. During the study, Kerven perfectly mastered dutar and gyjak play. He summed up art analysis of the sources of destan art in scientific work “The art of destan performance in Dashoguz velayat” that won second place at the Young Scientists of Turkmenistan in 2010.
“By emotional influence I would compare destan with fine arts work, - Kerven says. There are complex array of story lines, outstanding heroes, subtly noted spiritual feelings of characters, peoples’ wisdom, deep moral… poetry of destan poses strong vital message inducing human being to righteous deeds and good intentions. Besides vocal makings master play instrument, destanchy have to possess artistic abilities, which will allow to personify every role and great memory as every destan is voluminous work consisting from many chapters. For comparison, one chapter of “Hurlukgy – Hemra” destan may contain up to 50 songs and professional destanchy have to be able to perform from the memory from five destans and more. For example, there are 8 destans in my repertoire, numerous songs after poems of Turkmen classics like Magtumguly, Zelili, Kemine, Seidy and around 150 “tirme” - starting song that anticipates destan”.
By definition, destanchy is well-educated and well-read person as destan contains obsolete words, dialecticisms, borrowings from other languages and if it is necessary, he have to give professional comment to performed text.
Kerven is frequent participant of international Turkic language festivals. He received storm of applause from connoisseurs of folklore and ethnic music in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
- I often meet “goyendes”, the connoisseur of destan. They are not musician but sometime know more than destanchy themselves. It gives greater pleasure to meet such expert abroad especially in European countries.
From old time, there was a rule in destanchy art: every master have to pass down his skill to student and Kerven has his own student, which he is very proud. They are Shaher Tachev, Rovshen Hallyev, Mamed Nuriyev, Gulnar Sapargeldiyeva.
Succession in original performing creativity of destanchy embodies spiritual and historical tie of times and generations, enrich stylistic pallet of music culture of Turkmens. The art of bakhshy is a unique symbiosis of spirituality and folklore, living heritage where poetry of ages and rhymes of achievements are harmonically coexist.
All the velayats of our country have historically formed performance traditions of this music and epic genre. Honoured bakhshy of Turkmenistan, prize winner of “Altyn Asyr” contest Kerven Yovbasarov, mastered perfectly different techniques of performing skills, is one of the bright representatives on national school of destanchy.
Kerven was born in Gyorogly etrap of Dashoguz velayat. His love to destans was passed down from his father. Famous destanchies gathered very often in Yovbasarovs’ house. Little Kerven liked best of all performances of bakhshies during wedding ceremonies. Child hobby turned into desire to master the secrets of this art and Kerven entered regional music school. National bakhshy of Turkmenistan Hojamurat Oraev, virtuosic performer and talented educator became his first teacher.
Having graduated from musical school with honours in 1997, Kerven entered Turkmen State Conservatory to class of national bakhshy of Turkmenistan Oraznepes Dovletnazarov. During the study, Kerven perfectly mastered dutar and gyjak play. He summed up art analysis of the sources of destan art in scientific work “The art of destan performance in Dashoguz velayat” that won second place at the Young Scientists of Turkmenistan in 2010.
“By emotional influence I would compare destan with fine arts work, - Kerven says. There are complex array of story lines, outstanding heroes, subtly noted spiritual feelings of characters, peoples’ wisdom, deep moral… poetry of destan poses strong vital message inducing human being to righteous deeds and good intentions. Besides vocal makings master play instrument, destanchy have to possess artistic abilities, which will allow to personify every role and great memory as every destan is voluminous work consisting from many chapters. For comparison, one chapter of “Hurlukgy – Hemra” destan may contain up to 50 songs and professional destanchy have to be able to perform from the memory from five destans and more. For example, there are 8 destans in my repertoire, numerous songs after poems of Turkmen classics like Magtumguly, Zelili, Kemine, Seidy and around 150 “tirme” - starting song that anticipates destan”.
By definition, destanchy is well-educated and well-read person as destan contains obsolete words, dialecticisms, borrowings from other languages and if it is necessary, he have to give professional comment to performed text.
Kerven is frequent participant of international Turkic language festivals. He received storm of applause from connoisseurs of folklore and ethnic music in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
- I often meet “goyendes”, the connoisseur of destan. They are not musician but sometime know more than destanchy themselves. It gives greater pleasure to meet such expert abroad especially in European countries.
From old time, there was a rule in destanchy art: every master have to pass down his skill to student and Kerven has his own student, which he is very proud. They are Shaher Tachev, Rovshen Hallyev, Mamed Nuriyev, Gulnar Sapargeldiyeva.
Succession in original performing creativity of destanchy embodies spiritual and historical tie of times and generations, enrich stylistic pallet of music culture of Turkmens. The art of bakhshy is a unique symbiosis of spirituality and folklore, living heritage where poetry of ages and rhymes of achievements are harmonically coexist.
