Musicology Annotation << Back Orthodox singing in the Kukmor Kryashen tradition: scale and melodic patterns Aysylu T. Gumerova The author examines particularities of the scale and melodic patterns in the Orthodox singing tradition of the Tatar-Kryashens living in the Kukmor region of the Republic of Tatarstan. The locale is one of the areas populated by a sub-group of the Kryashen ethnic community. The samples were collected by the author for this particular study in the Kryashen settlements of the northwestern part of the Kukmor region in 2007–2008. Particularities of the scale pattern of the pious songs are analyzed via such components as the scale, functional mode and intonation, each of them being, to one extent or another, infl uential on the folk singing tradition. One of the main modifi cations of the lyrics of these songs has to do with the performers’ inclination towards anhemitonic scale type of thinking. The analysis results in highlighting particular pitch characteristics, which, in turn, allow concluding that the spiritual singing tradition of the Kukmor Kryashens is a unique stylistic musical phenomenon. Keywords: Tatar-Kryashens, the Kryashens, baptized (christened) Tatars, church singing, Orthodox chants, church-singing practice, scale and melodic patterns, anhemitonic music. Contacts: E-mail: gumerovaat@mail.ru Pp. 34-42.