Dzlieva, Dzerassa M.
Izvestia SOIGSI. 2024. IIS 52 (91). P.183-194.

Abstract:
The article analyses the content and composition of audio materials of the Phonographic
Archive of the V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute of Humanitarian and Social Studies.
The author of the article also developed a special structure formed based on the available
list of digitised material. The work on the article required preliminary work to clarify the
inventories, search for reports of folklore expeditions, annual reports on the work of the
authors of the collections for a period of more than half a century. Purpose of the study:
to systematise the Phonographic Archive of the V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute of
Humanitarian and Social Studies; to familiarise the interested audience with the materials;
to draw the attention of researchers to the importance of transcribing audio samples and
involving them in research. The audio files of the Scientific Archive comprise more than 90
hours of recordings of various contents, the main part of which is musical material (songs
and tunes). There are also legends, epic poems, tales, ballads, radio programmes, lectures,
conversations and memoirs. Unfortunately, not all the materials have been properly
passportised, but this fact in no way diminishes the importance of the audio collections.
Songs that are completely out of tradition are of particular research value: the ritual Alardiyy
Zaræg (a song honouring the Patron of Skin and Eye Diseases.); the labour song Onay (a
felting song); the ritual song Basiltæ (a carol); Nart Sagas accompanied by ancient musical
instruments, as well as unique recordings of playing on the wind instrument Uadyndz. The
phonographic materials of the V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute of Humanitarian and
Social Studies Scientific Archive are of interest to specialists working on the cataloguing of
audio funds, as well as those studying Ossetic folk music and folklore in general. The study
of the audio archive is of great importance in working on issues of cultural anthropology,
sociology of culture and ethnomusicology.

Keywords: Phono archive, Ossetic folklore, traditional music, Ossetic culture.

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