CHRONICLE 417

Byelorussian Chronicle 1971

1. The International Scene I. GENERAL The Byelorussian delegation consist­ (Head), with H. Zabicki, V. Smirnou, ing of the Byelorussian Minister of M. Dzialec, M. Kalaèynski (members), finances, B. Sacila, with V. Hanea­ A. Harbaeova, B. Kudraucoü, A. Ra­ renka and S. Chmialnicki took part solka and H. Niastrebka (deputies). in the session of the European Economie Commission of the UN in On 11 October* the Byelorussian April in Geneva. Foreign Minister A. Hurynoviè spoke at 'the General Assembly of the UN The Byelorussian* delegation to the in New York on the subject: 'The 26th Assembly of the United Nations need to strengthen peace and security consisted of the Byelorussian Minister of the nations'. of Foreign Affairs, A. Hurynovic

Il. I NT ERNA TI 0 NA L CULTURAL EX CH ANGES

Bulgaria Po land The Byelorussian State Circus made The Hrodna song and dance a successful tour of Bulgaria in the ensemble Nioman (120 artists) visited sununer. the Bialystok province in the summer.

Czechoslovakia One of the highlights* of the 11 th A. V. Lykaü, director of the Institute International Music Festival Sopot-71, of Heat and Mass Exchange of the which was held in Sopot in August, Byelorussian Academy of Sciences, was the performance of the Byelo­ was awarded the gold medal of the russian 'pop' group Piesniary. It Czechoslovak Society for Internation­ received enthusiastic press reviews. al Relations. This was the group's first appearance outside the Soviet Union. The Baranavièy* song and dance ensemble Juraéka took part in the The well-known* Byelorussian lit- festival of amateur art groups of 'the erary historian Adam Maldzis visited Socialist countries. which was held in Poland in November. At the invitation Prague. of 'the Byelorussian Association in Poland he made visits to Gdansk, France Bialystok, Bielsk, Orla, Michajlowo An exhibition of Byelorussian and Hajnaüka, where he gave talks graphie art was held in Lyon. Al­ and lectures. The Byelorussian writer together 52 works by 22 artists were Pilip Piestrak also visited Bialystok in shown. The artists who exhibited November. their works included A. Los, N. Pap­ laüskaja, H. Paplaüski, L. Asiecki and Russia others. Among the award-winning emnes at the Soviet childrens' film festival Italy which was held in Moscow in May The Martini cup for fencing was there was the Byelorussian film Pala­ won by the Byelorussian, Alena nez Ahinskaha (Oginski Polonaise). Bialova. * 8/3833

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The Byelorussian season at the Kletnaja in Byelorussian southern Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow took place Palessie. on 7-26 July. The Byelorussian State Theatre of Opera and Ballet showed A decade of Byelorussian* literature several outs tan ding Byelorussian was held in Magniiogorsk in March. works, among them the new opera Among those taking part were the Zorka Venera (music by Jury Siemia­ Byelorussian writers and poets Janka niaka, words by Ales Bacyla) based Bryl ,Vasil Vitka. Siarhiej Hrachoii­ on the life of 'the poet Maksim Bahda­ sik, Uladzimir Karatkievic, and the novic, and the ballet Vybrannica literary critic Ales Adamoviè. (music by Ja. Hlebaii, written on the motifs of Janka Kupala's poems. Turkey * The products of the Mazyr factory The Byelorussian mus1cians and of artistic -0bjects enjoyed great composers R. Syrma, H. Citoviè, A. popularity at 'the International Trade Bahatyroii and L. Mucharynskaja Fair in Izmir. Especially popular took part in the 7th International were the ceramic wares with designs Music Congress which was held in by the local artist M. Puskar, and the M-0scow in October. The Congress was weavings of V. Harbaèuk. organised by UNESCO and its subject was 'The musical culture of the Ukraine peoples: tradition and the present day'. The delegaies of the Congress The Byelorussian State Orchestra had the opportunity to hear ethno­ of folk instruments, directed by Prof. graphical choirs from the now famous J. Zynoviè, made a tour of the 'singing villages' of Toniez, Bukèa and Ukraine and Moldavia.

II. Events in Byelorussia

Minsk A New Institu'te of Geochemistry A group of scholars headed by R. A. and Geophysics of the Byelorussian Avaniesau, K. Atrachoviè (the poet Academy of Sciences was formed on and playwright Kandrat Krapiva) and the basis of the already existing Geo­ J. Mackieviè were awarded the chemical Laboratory, and the Geo­ Soviet State Prize for their out­ physical Observatory at Pleseany, ë.he standing work in the field of Byelo­ only one of its kind in the western russian linguistics, in pariicular for part of the USSR. producing the Dialectological Atlas of the Byelorussian Language. * The Jakub Kolas Institute of * Linguistics of the Byelorussian Two of the best known Byeloruss- Academy of Sciences held in January ian present-day novelists, Ivan Mielez a conference to commemorate the and Ivan Samiakin, were both award­ centenary of the publication of the ed one of the highest Soviet decora­ Byelorussian dictionary by 1. Nasoviè. tions, the Order of the Red Flag, on At the same time the Byelorussian the occasion of their 50th birthday. State Library organised an exhibition of books illustrating the development The New State *Theatre of Musical of the study of Byelorussian from the Comedy opened in Minsk on 17 Jan­ 16th century to the present day. uary. On its first night it presented the comedy Spiavajué fovaranki (The * skylarks sing) by the composer Jury A popular music festival Bielaruski Siemianiaka. suvenir took place at the Minsk Sports Palace in March. Among the * groups taking part there was the The Byelorussian State University Piesniary who earlier won the first in Minsk, founded in 1921, celebrated prize at the music festival in Moscow. its 50th anniversary. Under the direction of Uladzimir * Mulavin, who himself is a composer

Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 08:57:59AM via free access CHRONICLE 419 and arranges all the music, the group He was accompanied by the Soviet specialises in the modern interpreta­ ambassador to Poland Stanislau Pila­ tion of traditional Byelorussian folk tovic, who is a Byelorussian. motifs, and in music by contem­ porary Byelorussian composers. Members of the *Finnish delegation of the Soviet-Finnish commission for Delegates attending* the meeting of scientific and technical cooperation the World Meteorological Organiza­ visited Minsk on 3 June. tion in Moscow visited Byelorussia on 31 March - 1 April. They were shown A Bulgarian Trade* Union delegation the hydrometeorological centre in visited Minsk on 8 June. Minsk and the unified hydrometeoro­ logical station at Stoiibcy. The election to* the parliament (Supreme Soviet) of the Byelorussian A song contest of* the Baltic coun- Soviet Socialist Republic took place tries and Byelorussia took place in on 13 June. All the 425 candidates, Minsk in April. Among the prize­ one for each constituency, were winners were the students of the elected. The total number of voters Byelorussian State Conserva tory was 5,874,561 or 99.98 per cent of the Anatol Padhajski and Michas Zdanie­ electorate. Of this number 5,871,319 vic, and the soloist of the theatre or 99.94 per cent voted for the can­ Estonia, Mati Palm. didates and 3,238 against. * The 6th Congress of the Union of The Janka Kupala* Institute of Lit- Byelorussian Soviet Writers took erature of the Byelorussian Academy place in Minsk on 26-27 April. Several of Sciences held in September a con­ speakers - E. Los, V. Kavalenka, A. ference on the subject 'Problems of Asipienka, I. Mielez, N. Hilevic and style in Modern Byelorussian lit­ others - spoke about the difficulties erature'. of publishing Byelorussian books in Byelorussla, and stressed the need for a special publishing bouse for works The Soviet television* film festival of Byelorussian literature. The editor took place in Minsk on 1-10 October. of the monthly Maladosé, Ales Asi­ Byelorussian entries were the prize­ pienka, drew attention to the predic­ winning film Usia karaleuskaja raé ament of young authors: 'In recent (All the king's men) and Razmova pra years the publication of works of ziamlu (Dialogue about the earth). young writers bas encountered in­ numerable difficulties. Many of them A delegation *from Nottingham, wait three or four years and even headed by the Lord Mayor, visited longer for their first book to be pub­ Minsk in October. Nottingham and lished'. Nil Hilevic described the Minsk are 'twin' cities. general situation in the following terms: 'The works of our prose writ­ Teachers' delegations* from the Ger- ers are published in their native (i.e. man Democratic Republic and from Byelorussian - ed.) language in 7-10 Iran visited Minsk in October and thousand copies, and then the same November. The delegates had the works are published again by our opportunity to study the organisation publishing bouses in Russian transla­ of education in Byelorussia. tion in 100 thousand copies. The bulk of these books remain here in Byelo­ * russia. But why? What are the gu:ding An exhibition of books from the principles of our publishers and book­ German Democratic Republic was selling organisations? According to held in Minsk on 5-15 October. Among the latest population census 80 per the exhibits there was also the antho­ cent of the Byelorussians consider logy of Byelorussian short stories in Byelorussian as their native tangue. German translation, StOrche über Let us then make necessary conclu­ den Sümpfen, published a few months sions from these figures'. earlier in Berlin.

The Polish Prime* Minister P. Jaro- On 4-5 October,* the 2nd Congress szewicz visited Minsk on 22-23 May. of the Byelorussian Voluntary Asso-

Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 08:57:59AM via free access 420 THE JOURNAL OF BYELORUSSIAN STUDIES ciation for the Protection of Historical and Cultural monuments was held in Uladzimir Uladamirski* (Malejka), Minsk. According to the report of its one of the greatest names in Byelo­ president, I. Klimaü (The Vice-Pres­ russian theatre, died in January at ident of the Byelorussian SSR), the the age of 78. He had been a member Association, which was founded in of the Janka Kupala Theatre since 1968, now has 967,292 members. 1924. During the years 1968-70 the Associa­ tion, in cooperation with other * competent organizations and institu­ The writer Janka Maur (Ivan tions, carried out the registration of Fiodaraü) died on 3 August. He was all monuments of historical and 88. He was the pioneer of the Byelo­ cultural interest on the territory of russian adventure story for children Byelorussia. Altogether 12,450 monu­ and young people. His best book, ments have been registered; of these Paleskija Rabinzony (The Robinsons 314 monuments of Lenin, 4,940 monu­ of Palessie), written in 1930, has ments of the so-called revolutionary enjoyed great popularity among young military and working glory (practically readers to 'the present day. all dating from the last war and the post-war period), 23 monu­ ments of Russian military glory, A Z I E R S C Y N A (Recyca district) 6,142 archaeological abjects, 525 mon­ uments of architecture, 206 mon­ The village choir of Azierscyna is uments of art, and 300 monuments of well-known throughout Byelorussia ethnographical interest. All mon­ and outside it. It began 35 years ago wnents belonging to the first 'three with the appearance on 'the local categories are state protected. Of the radio Recyca of the family choir from rest only 790 monuments of archae­ that village, consisting of 11 Lapaciny ological and 78 of architectural sisters and cousins. The founder was interest enjoy state protection, and Taéciana Lapacina, a peasant woman none of the artistic or ethnographical from Azierscyna, endowed with out­ groups. standing musical talent and profound knowledge of Byelorussian folk songs which permitted her not only to * execute the old songs but to create Kandrat Krapiva (real name Kan­ new ones in the 'traditional manner. drat Atrachovic), the well-known She has remained the moving spirit Byelorussian poet, playwright and behind the choir ever since. Now scholar, is 75 years old. As a writer Taéciana Lapacina is 80 years old and he became first known as an aü~hor has the title of 'Distinguished artist of witty fables and plays, the most of the Byelorussian Soviet Republic'. famous of which is most probably the comedy Chto smiajecca apo§nim (Who laughs last), wrfüen in 1939. For a BARYSAÜ long time Krapiva was the head of The new cinema Jubilejny opened the Institute of Linguistics of the its doors to spectators. It has 120 Byelorussian Academy of Sciences, seats. The cinema is run by school­ and was the general editor of several children of one of Barysau's second­ important works on the Byelorussian ary schools, who fill all the posts from language, among them the 'academic' manager to usherette. Grammar of the Byelorussian Langu­ age and the Byelorussian-Russian Dictionary. He is now Vice-President BREST of the Byelorussian Academy of Sciences and has the title of People's A teachers' conference on the sub­ j ect 'The role of literature and art in Writer of Byelorussia. education of the Soviet man' took place in Brest. Speakers were the * lecturers of the city's Ins'titute of Siarhiej Prytycki, President of the Education L. Smaljanava, J. Carniaü• Byelorussian SSR, died after a long skaja and Ja. La8uk, who spoke on illness on 13 June. He was 59. present-day trends in Byelorussian The new President of the Byelo­ literature, and in children's literature russian SSR is F. A. Surhanail. in particular.

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reserve comprises an area of 800 sq. CIMKAVICY kilometers along the river Biarezina, partly in the Viciebsk and partly in This native town of the novelist the Minsk provinces, and is partic­ Kuzma Corny boasts of a flourishing ularly rich in all kinds of wild life. amateur theatre which was founded in 1938. It has also a children's sec­ L 0 ZN A (Viciebsk province). tion. The repertoire of the theatre The children of the local secondary consists mainly of plays by Byelorus­ school are particularly proud of their sian playwrights such as J. Kupala, countryman, the People's Writer of UL Halubok, Ar. Maiizon, A. Maka­ Byelorussia. Michas Lynkoii. They jonak and others. correspond with him, and the school library has a special section contain­ HOMIEL ing all Lynkoii's works autographed The writer Ivan Siarkoii from by the author. Homiel was awarded the first prize in the AU-Soviet competition for the ORSA best children's book for his novel My The seminar of young Byelorussian chlopcy zyvucyja (We are tenacious writers, artists and scientis'ts was held boys). It recounts the adventures of in the holiday camp Cajka near Orsa two youngsters from Eastern Byelo­ in September. It was the fourth russia in the early post-war period. The novel was first printed in the encounter of this kind, the first three being at Sviciaz, Narac and in Nova­ monthly Maladosé in 1970, and a year polack, but it was the first to include later appeared in book form. the scientists as well as writers and artists. HRODNA An exhibition of paintings of local PA D LAS SIE (Lachavicy district). artists was held in April. Over 70 The village choir of the village of works by A. Volkaii, L. Nalivajka, V. Padlassie is 30 years old. It was found­ Halubina, V. Danienkaii and others ed by Hienadz Citovic who is now were shown. director of the Byelorussian State * Choir. In 1965 the Padlassie choir was Three portrait paintings from the given the title of 'People's Choir of early 17th century were found in 'füe the Byelorussian SSR'. basement of the former Brigittine convent in Hrodna. They are now being restored, and will form part of RA KA ü C Y (Smarhon district). the collection of the Byelorussian A schoolboy, A. Sachnovic, while State Art Museum in Minsk. digging potatoes in 'the field, found a treasure consisting of 223 coins which The artistic life of* Hrodna has been proved to be lOth century Arab enriched by the formation of the city dirhemas from Samarkand and other philharmonie orchestra. places in Central Asia. Byelorussian archaeologists have begun excava'iion KLIMA VICY in this locality. A festival of ethnographical song and art of the Klimavic district, one SLONIM of the most eastern parts of the Bye­ The woven bedspreads and other lorussian SSR, took place in February. objects made by Safija Juryk have One of the most successful entries was become famous far outside Byelorus­ that of the 70-year old village sia, and she receives numerous re­ violinist Andrej Jankoiiski. quests for her products from as far as Voronez, Archangelsk and Stavro­ KR A J C Y (Viciebsk province). pol. She has been practising 'the art The small village of Krajcy is a of handweaving for over twenty years, major tourist attraction because of and all her products have been the Zoological Museum of the Biare­ executed according to traditional zinski nature reserve. In the first half Byelorussian folk design. Now the of 1971 alone the museum had over Slonim factory of art abjects has 10 thousand visitors. The Biarezinski asked Safija Juryk to work for them.

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TURAÜ VICIEBSK An amateur gypsy song and dance An exhibition entitled 'Old Viciebsk' ensemble was formed in this one of was held in the city museum in March. the most ancient Byelorussian cities. The avera,ge age of the members of On 24 March *the Jakub Kolas 'the ensemble is 20. Theatre showed the premiere of Shakespeare's King Lear. The direc1or was S. Kazimiroüski. VIAZYNKA Restoration work has begun on the ZODZINA house in which the greatest Byelo­ An art exhibition was held in April russian poet, Janka Kupala, was born in Zodzina, the centre of the Byelo­ in 1882. It is hoped that the house will russian car industry. Works of the be restored to its original state as it artists V. Viarsocki, V. Hramyka M. was when the poet's family lived Savicki, V. Zoltak, Ja. Zajcaü 'and there. o1hers were shown.

III. Events Abroad

CANADA An exhibition called 'International On 22 March at the Carlton Caravan' was organ'sed by the University, Ottawa. Dr. J. Sadoüski Toronto City Arts Council in the last of Queens University, Kingston, gave week in June. Severa! e'thnical a lecture entitled 'Byelorussia and groups took part, among them Byelo­ Byelorussians: a neglected aspect of russians who had their own stand Slavic studies'. called 'Minsk'.

The Byelorussian* Institute of Arts ITALY and Science organised a study week­ end on Byelorussia at Queens Univers­ Monsignor Piotr Tatarynoviè, one of ity, Kingston on 17-18 April. The the senior Byelorussian Catholic following papers were read: Dr. J. priests, celebrated a double annivers­ Nicholson (McGill University) 'Tradi­ ary: his 75th birthday and 50th tion and innovations in Byéorussian anniversary of his priestly ordination. stress system'; B. Saparev (University Born in 1896 in the village of Miadz­ of Toronto) 'Prospects of development viedzicy, MP,r. Tatarvnovic was of nuclear power in Byelorussia'; Dr. _educated in Sluck, St. Petersburg and O. Arechva (University of Southern 'Minsk and was ordained priest in Illinois) 'The idea of national indepen­ l!J21. Before the war he worked as a dence in the works of Janka Kupala'; parish priest in Western Byelorussia. A. Malycky (University of Calgary) He was also known as an author of 'Byelorussian language in the press several articles which were published of Soviet Byelorussia': Dr. J. Za­ in Byelorussian Catholic periodicals prudnik (New York City University) in Vilna. Sorne of his works appeared 'Nationality question in the Third :ilso in book form. )l.fter tre l"st '"ar Russian Duma 1907-J!llT: Kr. V Ki­ ~gr. Tatarynovic settled permanently piel (New York Public Library) m Rome where he became director of 'Byelorussian books in the New York the Byelorussian section of Vatican Public Library'; Dr. V. Tumas (Pres­ Radio since its incep1ion in 1949. He ident, Byelorussian Institute of Arts retired from the Radio on 15 January and Sciences) 'Conf'sc11tion of Ska­ 1971. and his place was taken bv the ryna's books in WrocJaw': A. Ada­ Rt. Rev. Arch'mandrite Leo Haroska. movic (Columbia Un'versitv) 'New Since 1950 Mgr. Tatarynoviè has pub­ biographicl'll dict'onary of writers of lished the religious iournal Znic. He Soviet Byelorussia'. has also made new transla·tions of the New Testament and of the Mass into * Byelorussian.

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from London, it has flourishing large POLAND branches and owns property in Brad­ The Byelorussian Association in ford and Manchester, and has smaller Poland celebrated its 15th annivers­ local groups in other towns. ary. It was also 15 years since 'the beginning of the publication of the * Association's weekly paper Niva. The The Association of Byelorussians in Association has now 161 local clubs, a Great Britain operated its own pos'tal well-known folk and dance ensemble service during the postal strike in Lavonicha, and a Byelorussian ethno­ February and March, 1971. The serv­ graphical museum in Bielaviefa, ice obtained the license from the which was founded in 1966. It was Postmaster General on 17 February, also thanks chiefly to 'the Associa­ which lasted until 10 March. Apart tion's efforts that there are 163 from local deliveries in London, secondary schools and 3 'sixth-form letters were posted to Oxford, Read­ colleges' in which Byelorussian is ing, Birmingham, Manchester, Brad­ either the language of ins'Cruction or ford and even abroad. Two sets of is taught as a subject. stamps were issued, the second set consisting of five stamps re­ Every year 20 *teachers of Byelo- presenting various Byelorussian his­ russian in Poland go to Minsk on a torical buildings. refresher course. A special committee in Bielastok prepares the syllabus. ln London the *Anglo-Byelorussian Society organised its 6th course of The Byelorussian* writer Anton lectures on Byelorussian Culture. The Vasileüski, better known as Dziadzka lectures were held at the Society of z Lepiela, is 80 years old. His first Antiquaries, Burlington House. The short stories began to appear in the following papers were read: Rt. Rev. 1920s in Byelorussian periodical pub­ C. Sipovic, 'Archimandrite Andrej lica'tions in Vilna. Since the last war Cikota (1891-1952) and his place in the Vasileüski has lived permanently in Byelorussian Catholic Revival'; Dr. A. Poland. B. McMillin, 'Alhierd Abuchovic (1840- 1898) and his 'times'; J. Dingley, 'The RUSSIA Grammatika slovenskaja of Jan Uze­ The new comedy by the Byelo­ vic (1643, 45); Dr. R. A. French, russian playwright M. Matukoüski, 'Present population trends in Byelo­ Amnistyja, was sta.ged by the Moscow russia'; and A. Nadson, 'The mon­ Central Theatre of the Soviet Army. astery of Laürysava and its Gospels (early 14th century)' and 'Skaryna's UNITED KINGDOM prayer book'. The Francis Skaryna Byelorussian Library and Museum in London was * officially opened on 15 May by Prof. A study weekend on the early Robert Auty, professor of Compara­ printed books in Eastern Europe was tive Slavonie Philology at Oxford. It held at Dorking on 3-5 December. It was blessed by the Apostolic Delegate, was organised by the School of Slav­ Archbishop Domenico Enrici. The onie and East European Studies of library, which started 20 years ago as London University. The following a private collection, contains over papers were read: P. Valois, 'Books 10,000 titles of books, some of them printed before 1800 in the School of very rare, in all fields of Byelorussian Slavonie and East European Studies studies. lt has also a rich collection of Library', Prof. R. Auty, 'Glagolitic periodical publications, manuscripts incunabula'; D. Deletant, 'Early and archive material. Romanian printed books'; Dr. V. Pinto, 'Early Bulgarian printed books'; * R. Clogg, 'Greek printing in the On 17 July, the Association of Ottoman Empire and the Diaspora Byelorussians in Great Britain held 1721-1800'; E. P. Tyrrell, 'Old Slav­ in London its 25th Annual General onie and Russian books in Cambridge Meeting. Founded in 1946, the Asso­ up to 1800'; A. Nadson, 'New informa­ ciation is one of the oldest Byelo­ tion on Skaryna's printing in Vilna'; russian organizations abroad. Apart Dr. G. F. Cushing, 'The Hess mystery';

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Dr. M. Danilewicz, 'Sorne remarks on Cultural Centre in New York, Dr. V. the history of Polish printing from its Tumas read a paper entitled 'Byelo­ ortgins to the 18th century'. russians and 'the Byelorussian SSR in the light of the Soviet cens us of 1970'. Daminik Aniska,* the oldest member of the Byelorussian community in * London, died on 28 December at the On 30 October at the Byelorussian age of 84. He was born in the Sakolka Institute of Arts and Sciences in New district in western Byelorussia (now York held a meeting in honour of 'the in the Polish Republic). From 1910 his poetess Natalla Arsieimieva to mark correspondence and articles began to fifty years since the appearance in appear in Byelorussian papers, Nasa print of her first poem. The poetess, niva, and later in Bielarus. After the who now lives permanently in New First World War he wrote for the York, was a pupil of the Byelorussian papers Bielaruskaja krynica and secondary school in Vilna. She is the Chryscijanskaja dumka, and pub­ author of two collections of poems lished a few books. After the last war Pad sinim niebam (1927) and Siahoii­ he settled permanently in London. nia (1944) as well as several poems scattered in various Byelorussian UNITED STATES OF periodical publications which appear­ AMERICA ed in Byelorussia and abroad. On 30 October at the Byelorussian

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