The work proposes an integral criterion – which we call the “aesthetic concept of reality” – that allows us to consider the “classical” bard song (1960s, 70s, and partly 80s) as a single genre in the system of poetic genres. The features that reflect the genre specificity of the bard song are described: with the immanence of the song principle, its basis is the poetic text; the bard song includes features of specific song and poetic genres; the verbal meaning in it is determined by rhythm to a greater extent than in “book” poetry; the structure of the bard song was formed as a result of the synthesis of “high” and “low” elements of these genres. As a result, the validity of classifying the bard song as a genre of lyric poetry is demonstrated.
bard song; genre nature; essential features; poetic and musical structure; synthesis of “high” and “low” elements; aesthetic concept of reality.