Skomorokhy — an Alternative Lifestyle of Jongleurs in Medieval and Early Modern Ukraine

Abstract

The article examines the Ukrainian version of the pan-European culture of minstrels (in French: jongleurs) — itinerant musicians and actors — skomorokhy. Skomorokhy (also: hlumtsi, hudtsi, ihrtsi etc) played an important role in folk rituals (preserving the features of pagan pre-Christian culture). In addition, they acquired the features of a closed group, a corporation of professional musicians and entertainers. In this capacity, they were known both in aristocratic houses and on city squares. There were several medieval pan-European phenomena of an intellectual and artistic nature, such as the university subculture of intellectuals of the High Middle Ages, the poetry of goliards and troubadours, chivalrous courtly culture, etc. These phenomena could differ only in local color and local traditions. Thus, jongleurs, spielmann, minstrels, kuglarze and skomorokhy are local versions of one traveling artistic subculture. It was part of the folk laughing culture, but at the same time it contributed its share to the courtly and chivalric culture. In Ukraine, the first germs of skomorokhy were recorded precisely at the princely court from the 11th century, however, the main existence of skomorokhy is recorded in the squares of cities, in villages, and in constant wanderings until the 17th century, and on the periphery the phenomenon could have existed longer. Natives of Ukraine, skomorokhy are also recorded abroad, from Lithuania and Poland to Germany and Italy. The skomorokh tradition is interrupted by the culture of itinerant musicians of the Baroque era — the kobzars and bandurists, as well as by the culture of itinerant deacons. Certain elements of the theatricality of skomorokhy were transformed into folk performances of the Christmas nativity scene and family rituals and in folk humorous culture. In Muscovy, there was a distinct version of skomorokhi, which, due to despotic rule and closed society, degenerated into controlled clowning. Ukrainian skomorokhy left its mark both in toponymy and in anthroponymy.