EPSKA GRANICA IZMEĐU BOSNE I SANDŽAKA IZ UGLA DVA PJEVAČA-GUSLARA AHMET-BEGA I MURAT-BEGA MUŠOVIĆA
EPIC BOUNDARY BETWEEN BOSNIA AND SANDŽAK THROUGH THE PERSPECTIVE OF TWO GUSLARS, AHMET-BEY AND MURAT-BEY MUŠOVIĆ

Summary/Abstract: This paper explores the historical context of the existence of an epic boundary by examining the life paths of two guslars (gusle singers), Ahmet-Bey and Murat-Bey Mušović, and their epic songs recorded by Harvard scholar of classical literature and Homeric studies, Milman Parry, in Bijelo Polje in 1935. By showcasing portions of their epic repertoire, we highlight the rich oral tradition of the Bosniaks preserved in the Milman Parry Collection at Harvard. However, the fate of the cultural creators within the Bosniak epic domain is deeply intertwined with the turbulent events of the late 19th century and the withdrawal of the Ottoman Empire from the Balkans. Social realities and the scholarly contributions of the broader community frame the journey from individual epic expression to its preservation in collective memory. For this reason, we have placed the singers, their songs, and the recorder on equal footing, recognizing their shared significance. To draw conclusions about the epic past, we used the oral accounts of Ahmet-Bey and Murat-Bey Mušović, recorded on 12-inch aluminum discs that faithfully capture the live voices of the storytellers. By considering their reflections, we become closer conversationalists with that time, separated from us by decades. Excerpts from two songs are presented as examples of the achieved level of epic tradition, alongside commentary on their repertoires and the distinctive speech patterns characteristic of the region. As a product of centuries of interaction and conflict between civilizations, the epic domain of the Bosniaks has consistently faced challenges and the turbulence of historical events. These circumstances facilitated the development of a culture with a multiethnic composition, bringing both advantages and susceptibility to dispute and appropriation. Therefore, defining the epic boundary established by the Bosniaks within the oral tradition of the Balkans is of immeasurable importance for the literary creation of an entire people, serving as an auditory expression of their identity. Through this research, we seek to answer the question: Does an epic boundary exist at all?

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