Duma

A Duma (Ukrainian: дума, plural dumy) is an oral epic poem which originated in Ukraine during the Cossack era, possibly based on earlier Kyivan epic forms. Historically, dumy were performed by itinerant Cossack bards called kobzari, who accompanied themselves on a kobza or a bandura and were often blind; or by lirnyks, players of lira (also known as relya), a Ukrainian variety of hurdy-gurdy. Dumas are sung in recitative, in the so-called "duma mode", a variety of the Dorian mode with a raised fourth degree.