New life of Khorezm maqoms

June 25, 2010

On June 25, Tashkent`s Centre of National Arts hosted a presentation of the book “Khorezm tanbur notation”, organized by the Fund Forum, the Centre of National Arts and the Specialized Research Centre of the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan. The event brought together maqom singers, musicians, music experts alongside sculptors, artists and other art professionals as well as music students and journalists.

Maqom is a classical traditional music genre of Uzbek national music. Besides the presentation of the book, the event presented performances by prominent musicians and beginner maqom singers who played rubab, doira and dutar, reading the notes from the new unique edition. Munojat Yulchiyeva, a People`s Artist of Uzbekistan, performed a Khorezmian song while Abdukhoshim Ismailov and Ulmaskhon Rasulov performed in duet a composition. Young musician Sherzod Masharipov played traditional maqom in ‘suvoriy` category.

Khorezm tanbur notation, created by maqom singers in the last quarter of the 19th century, is complete and unique. Its sign system encompasses the foundations of classical maqoms in a full format. From this point of view, these texts are an unprecedented source of study of the foundations of Uzbek classical music.

Professor Otanazar Matyakubov, co-author of the book “Khorezm tanbur notation”:

“Khorezm tanbur notation was created in the late 19th century. Musical notation came to Khorezm from Bukhara, which is believed to be the motherland of maqoms. Maqom is classical Uzbek music which will live forever. It can also be mixed with other modern types of music. The base remains the same, it`s the sounds that change. Although maqom has some directions that cannot be changed. It took years and assistance from people and organizations to decode this unique manuscript. And we are very thankful to these people and organizations. Our book is a result of painstaking efforts by specialists of all levels: musicologists, maqom practitioners, philologists, etc. It is interesting both to musicians and art historians”.

Khorezm tanbur notation is gaining popularity far beyond the confines of Uzbekistan. For many musicians and researchers abroad, this manuscript is a source of maqom theory and practice.