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Instrumental Music of
Turkmenistan
The musical cultures of Central Asia can be divided into two major groups. Uzbekistan and Tadjkistan share a common culture with Western Asia and Azerbaijan, whereas Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan are nomadic cultures. Turkmenistan possesses characteristics of both cultures. It
resembles Western Asia in its use of the Iranian musical instrument called
gidzhak, the form of its poetry, and the use of microtone (quarter tones and
other intervals smaller than a half tone), whereas the almost complete
absence of percussion, the polyphonic performance technique using the
longlute are traits shared with nomadic cultures.
This is a recording of
musicians who came to Japan for the concert, "A Musical Voyage Along The
Silk Road VIll, under the title of Epic Ballads from Afar", which was
held in March and April of 1993.
* Program:
This is an album of solo
performances on Turkmenistan's three most common instruments. After becoming
part of the Soviet Union many new pieces were composed, but this album is
exclusively of traditional music.
First to appear is the
kargy-tyuidyuk, a kind of long, narrow flute. Sometimes called simply
tyuidyuk, it was originally an instrument of shepherds. It has six finger
holes, uses no reed, and is much like the Japanese shakuhachi. The sound of
this instrument also resembles that of the shakuhachi. Its repertory includes
melodies taken from traditional folk songs.
The second intrument is the
gidzhak, a three-or four-stringed bowed instrument, with skin stretched over
its small round body, Here, Ataev is using a three stringed instrument. Like
the kokyfi of Japan it is held vertically, and played by turning the
instrument to meet the bow, while the bow is drawn along one plane. The same
sort of instrument is found in Iran and Azerbaijan.
The last of the three
instruments, the dutar, is the most popular in Turkmenistan. Similar instruments are common throughout Central Asia. "Du" means "two," and
"tar" means "string." It is a long lute which has a small
pear-shaped body, a long neck, and which is played by plucking its strings
with the fingers. Thirteen metal frets are tied around the neck, and its two
strings, which were originally made of silk, are nowadays made of metal. The
characteristic sound of this instrument derives from the fact that one of its
two strings functions sometimes as a drone, while at other times is used for
playing the melody in parallel fourths. This instruments
is also commonly used by singers who accompany themselves.
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1) Menzer
(a girl like the moon)
An old song of Turkmenistan, it tells of a girl who is beautiful like the
moon. In the Middle East a woman's beauty is often likened to the moon.
2) Zulpun (long
curls)
A song about a girl with
long curly hair.
3) Yok
Menim (I have no friends)
A single stanza from
destan Shasenem". Destan (or dastan) is a ballad poem com mon
throughout the Middle East. It contains many stories of heros and love.
4) Novgul (New
flower,persian)
Novgul is the name of a woman.
This song tells of her beauty.
5) Novai
Novai was a famous 15th century
poet, thinker and politician who was active in Herat. He wrote poetry in turkish and Persian. He is
known as Navoi in Uzbekistan.
6) Begler
A song about brave feats
of trick horsemanship.
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7) Sallana
Content and meaning of
this song are uncertain.
8)
Saltiklar
Saltiklar is the name of
a man from Turkmenistan who lost his eyes while doing military service in
Iran. While in Iran he thinks about his lover, and upon returning to Turkmenistan writes down his thoughts in the form of this
song. It is said that when his lover heard this song she immediately knew
that he was its composer.
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9) A
Bichare (despair)
An old song of Turkmenistan. It depicts the figure of a man, whose life has
been a total failure, who is mourning that he cannot go on living.
10) Gyzyl
Boruk (gold colored hat)
A song in praise of the
mother country, often played at weddings.
11) Garry
Saityk (old Saityk)
The Saityks comprise one
of the ethnic groups of Turkmenistan. This piece is the last of five variations on
this theme.
12) Gyzy1
Inzhik
The title is the name of
a bird. It is a song about love.
13)
Khazhygolak
"Khazhy" is a
person's name, and "Golak" means missing both hands. Long ago in Turkmenistan there lived a famous dutar player named Khazhy.
Hearing of Khazhy's reputation, the king of Uzbekistan tried to persuade Khazhy to become his court
musician by offering treasures and beautiful women. Not wanting to leave
his homeland, however, Khazhy turned down the offer. Enraged that Khazhy's
disregard for his authority, the king brought Khazhy to the palace and
force him to play. Afterwards, he cut off both of Khazhys arms and set him
free, saying, "Go and play wherever you please." The night before
going to the king's palace, Khazhy had a premonition of danger. He stayed
up all night writing this piece, which he entrusted to his apprentice.
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Performers
Dzhumaev Charyyar (Kargy-tyuidyuk)
Studied
at the National Music School of Turkmenistan and the National Educational Institute of Arts
of Turkmenistan. Presently, in addition to performing activities,
he teaches dutar and kargy - tyuidyuk at the National Ovezov Music School. Countries in which he has performed include Cambodia, Hungary, Turkey, Afghanistan.
Ataev Allaberdi (gidzhak)
Was a
member of the Folk Music Ensemble for two years starting in 1979. From 1983 to 1986 he was a member of the Turkmen
Republic Folk Instrumental Ensemble. He now belongs to the group with which
he came to Japan, Nurmuk-hamedova Dzemel Ensemble. Countries in
which he has performed include Turkey, Jordan and Syria.
Annamuradov Annaseiit (dutar)
After
graduating in 1981 from the National Ovezov Music School he became a teacher of dutar there. He is active as
a soloist. His father is also a famous dutar player.
translated by Larry Richards
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Dr. Farzad MARJANI,
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