Music of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a Central Asian country inhabited primarily by Turkic Uzbeks. Its music is closely related to Tajik, Persian and other influences.

Uzbek classical music is called shashmaqam, which arose in Bukhara in the late 16th century when that city was a regional capital. Shashmaqam is closely related to Azeri mugam and Uighur muqam. The name, which translates as six maqams refers to the structure of the music, which contains six sections in diverrent musical modes, similar to classical Persian music. Interludes of spoken Sufi poetry interrupt the music, typically beginning at a low register and gradually ascending to a climax before calming back down to the beginning tone.

List of Uzbek musicians:

• Munadjat Yulchieva
• Sherali Djuraev
• Yulduz Usmanova
• Turgan Alimatov
• Sevara Nazarkhan

Traditional instruments include:

• Dombra
• Dutar
• Doyra
• Rubob
• Ud
• Nay
• Surnay
• Karnay

References

• Broughton, Simon and Sultanova, Razia. "Bards of the Golden Road". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, pp 24-31. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0

Uzbek Music Websites:

• http://music.arbuz.com
• http://www.uzdessert.uz