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FOUR NEW ITEMS INSCRIBED ON UNESCO'S REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY
Targeted News Service
December 5, 2012 Wednesday 7:32 PM EST
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
issued the following news release:
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage meeting at UNESCO Headquarters until 7 December today
inscribed elements from Algeria, Armenia, Austria and Azerbaijan on the
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The following elements have been inscribed so far:
Rites and craftsmanship associated with the wedding costume
tradition of Tlemcen, Algeria--During the wedding ritual of Tlemcen
in northwestern Algeria, the bride is dressed in a traditionally
woven golden silk dress, surrounded by her friends and married
female relations; symbolic henna designs are applied to her hands,
and an older woman helps her don a caftan of embroidered velvet,
jewelry and a conical hat. Girls in Tlemcen are initiated into the
costume tradition at an early age, while the craftsmanship involved
in making the precious wedding costume is transmitted from generation
to generation.
Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or
'David of Sassoun', Armenia--The traditional Armenia epic Daredevils
of Sassoun recounts the story of David of Sassoun, a defiant youth
who defended his homeland in an unequal duel against the evil. This
heroic epic is recounted and sung in sections in a lyrical voice with
rhythmic enunciation. It is performed, usually sitting, to the musical
accompaniment of a duduk during weddings, birthdays, christenings and
major national cultural events. There are 160 variants and performances
may last up to two hours.
Schemenlaufen, the carnival of Imst, Austria--The city of Imst
celebrates its Fasnacht carnival every four years on the Sunday
before the Christian season of Lent. The central festivity is
Schemenlaufen, a procession of masked, costumed dancers. The main
characters wear bells and perform a special musical dance of jumps
and bows. Masked chimney sweeps climb houses, witches shout at the
audience accompanied by a band playing dissonant melodies, and bears
demonstrate their strength. The carnival unites the whole population
of Imst in a common goal: organizing the Fasnacht in accordance with
long-standing tradition.
Craftsmanship and performance art of the Tar, a long-necked string
musical instrument, Azerbaijan--The Tar is a long-necked plucked
lute crafted and performed throughout Azerbaijan. It features in
numerous traditional musical styles and is played at weddings and
socials gatherings, festive events and concerts. The hollow body,
made of mulberry wood, is shaped in the form of a figure eight and
is held horizontally, while the eleven metal strings are plucked
with a plectrum. Craftspeople pass on their skills to apprentices,
and players transmit their skills by word of mouth and demonstration
to young people within their community.
The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
covers cultural expressions which are testimony to the diversity of
intangible heritage. It is designed to help raise awareness of the
importance of this heritage. More inscriptions are scheduled to take
place later in the day.
From: A. Papazian
Targeted News Service
December 5, 2012 Wednesday 7:32 PM EST
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
issued the following news release:
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage meeting at UNESCO Headquarters until 7 December today
inscribed elements from Algeria, Armenia, Austria and Azerbaijan on the
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The following elements have been inscribed so far:
Rites and craftsmanship associated with the wedding costume
tradition of Tlemcen, Algeria--During the wedding ritual of Tlemcen
in northwestern Algeria, the bride is dressed in a traditionally
woven golden silk dress, surrounded by her friends and married
female relations; symbolic henna designs are applied to her hands,
and an older woman helps her don a caftan of embroidered velvet,
jewelry and a conical hat. Girls in Tlemcen are initiated into the
costume tradition at an early age, while the craftsmanship involved
in making the precious wedding costume is transmitted from generation
to generation.
Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or
'David of Sassoun', Armenia--The traditional Armenia epic Daredevils
of Sassoun recounts the story of David of Sassoun, a defiant youth
who defended his homeland in an unequal duel against the evil. This
heroic epic is recounted and sung in sections in a lyrical voice with
rhythmic enunciation. It is performed, usually sitting, to the musical
accompaniment of a duduk during weddings, birthdays, christenings and
major national cultural events. There are 160 variants and performances
may last up to two hours.
Schemenlaufen, the carnival of Imst, Austria--The city of Imst
celebrates its Fasnacht carnival every four years on the Sunday
before the Christian season of Lent. The central festivity is
Schemenlaufen, a procession of masked, costumed dancers. The main
characters wear bells and perform a special musical dance of jumps
and bows. Masked chimney sweeps climb houses, witches shout at the
audience accompanied by a band playing dissonant melodies, and bears
demonstrate their strength. The carnival unites the whole population
of Imst in a common goal: organizing the Fasnacht in accordance with
long-standing tradition.
Craftsmanship and performance art of the Tar, a long-necked string
musical instrument, Azerbaijan--The Tar is a long-necked plucked
lute crafted and performed throughout Azerbaijan. It features in
numerous traditional musical styles and is played at weddings and
socials gatherings, festive events and concerts. The hollow body,
made of mulberry wood, is shaped in the form of a figure eight and
is held horizontally, while the eleven metal strings are plucked
with a plectrum. Craftspeople pass on their skills to apprentices,
and players transmit their skills by word of mouth and demonstration
to young people within their community.
The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
covers cultural expressions which are testimony to the diversity of
intangible heritage. It is designed to help raise awareness of the
importance of this heritage. More inscriptions are scheduled to take
place later in the day.
From: A. Papazian