Rhythmical structure of two-stress lines in the Russian bylina accentual verse in the light of the problem of metrical ambiguity

The article, based on the material of two-stress lines of the Russian bylinas, examines the problem of analyzing the metrics and rhythm of Russian folk verse. I study sound recordings of bylinas collected from one of the most famous bearers of the epic tradition, F. A. Konashkov. Texts published in the classical collections of Kirsha Danilov, P. N. Rybnikov, A. F. Gil’ferding were chosen as the basis for comparisons. Audio recordings provide an opportunity to reconsider the traditional view of the epic verse as a strict three-ictic taktovik (an accentual verse with mono-, di-, and trisyllabic inter-ictic interval), in which metrically strong positions are determined by phrasal stresses. I express the hypothesis that in genuine folk performance the accents are evenly distributed, and the determining role is played by verbal stresses rather than phrasal stresses. The generally accepted manner of reading epic texts with group accents reflects the secondary, “bookish” hypostasis of the epic verse, which later served as a source for various literary imitations. The metrical and rhythmical properties of two-stress lines are presented in detail, the parameters of the main indicators are recorded, which are: the variable anacrusis (0–3 syllables), the predominantly dactylic ending (75 %), the constant caesura, the predominance of a three-syllable inter-stress interval, and a general trochaic tendency. Some two-stress lines represent a full implementation of the folk song meter 5+5 or are presumably its derivatives. I consider the structure of two-stress lines in the context of the problem of metrical ambiguity. As far as I could demonstrate, in complex cases of ambiguous metrical interpretation of a particular line, audio recordings are a reliable support, which make it possible to identify the real metrical and rhythmical structure of the verse. In conclusion, I emphasize the need for further verification of the stated theoretical positions using modern methods of phonetic analysis.