The dissertation is devoted to the research of cultural memory as a factor of formation of national identity, which is reflected in the folk song practices of Poltava region. The paper reviews scientific works devoted to the study of cultural memory and identity. The theoretical comprehension of the concepts of “cultural memory” and “regional identity”, “national identity”, “folk song practice” and “regionalism”; the features of their interpretation in scientific sources are clarified. Attention is focused on the relationship between these concepts. It is noted that folk song practices play a cultural and creative role in the formation of regional identity, since it is closely related to the historical development of the ethnos and its genesis. The historical and cultural preconditions of formation of song culture of Poltava region, in particular folklore bases of formation of song creativity and modern cultural and artistic environment of Poltava region are considered. It is determined that folk song practices have existed since ancient times, they were formed on the basis of ancient ritual songs and are a reflection of a person’s worldview, his attitude to nature and environmental phenomena. It was found that a significant contribution to the folklore component of the musical culture of Poltava region of the 18th-19th centuries was made by the brotherhoods of the blind elders-musicians, whose activities contributed to the establishment of the national identity. A brief description of the groups of Poltava region and individual performers, as well as people from the Poltava region, who promote folk songs in Ukraine and abroad, thereby supporting the Ukrainian Diasporas. The ways of expressing identity by folk songs are outlined. The significance of folk song practices for the formation of national identity is substantiated. The contribution of representatives of the Ukrainian Diaspora, natives of Poltava region, to the development of Ukrainian culture by preserving, creating new and promoting folk songs within the borders of other states has been clarified. It is revealed that a significant role in the formation of the Ukrainian nation was played by T.G. Shevchenko, who laid the foundations of the modern Ukrainian language, using elements of folk songs, the literary language of old authors and peasant commonplace, and portrayed Ukrainians as an independent nation. The gender discourse in Ukrainian folk songs is traced; in particular, the role of women (her appearance, age, character traits, social status) and songs in the formation of cultural memory and national identity is reflected. In the dissertation, for the first time in cultural studies, substantiates the role of cultural memory through the prism of folk songs, as a factor in the formation of national identity, which consists in the re-actualization of the cultural and historical past of the nation, is perceived distorted and preserved fragmentarily. The appeal to primary source, in particular the folk song, makes a mechanism for the preservation of national integrity, transforming through the emotional component of song performance into cultural memory, which forms the identity itself. Cultural memory combined with historical experience will result in national identity and conscious being. The conceptual and categorical toolkit of culturological research have been deepened, in particular, the concepts of “cultural memory”, “national identity”, “regional identity” and “regionalism” has been clarified. The concept “silent memory” and “depth of cultural memory” have been introduced. We interpret the silent memory, as information-symbolic meanings, the images of the past, preserved in time, exist only at the family level, preserving their value and sacred meaning. We consider the depth of cultural memory through the symbolism of the musical and poetic canvas, which can be measured by the number of written primary sources, recorded carriers, confirming our research theories. The formative factors of the song culture of Poltava region and their influence on the national identity are revealed. Folk-song practices became the determining factor of intensive development of culture of the studied region. Emphasis is placed on the need to revive the origins of song culture – as an important factor in the development of modern, educated personality.
Key words: cultural memory, regional culture, national identity, silent memory, folk song, Ukrainian folklore, regional studies, folk song practices, Poltava region, folklore.
