Munojot Yolchiyeva (born 1960), also known under the Russian form of her name, Munadjat Yulchieva, is the leading performer of classical

Uzbek music The music of Uzbekistan has reflected the diverse influences that have shaped the country. It is very similar to the music of the Middle East and is characterized by complicated rhythms and meters. Because of the long history of music in the countr ...

and its Persian-language cousin Shashmaqâm. She is famous for the unique quality of her voice and her natural charisma. She is recognized as '' People's artist of Uzbekistan'' (1994). She is honored as the ''Heorine of Uzbekistan'' (2021).

Professional career

Yolchiyeva was born in 1960 in the Buloqboshi district of

Andijan region Andijan Region ( Uzbek: Andijon viloyati/Андижон вилояти, ئەندىجان ۋىلايەتى, russian: Андижанская область) is a region of Uzbekistan, located in the eastern part of the Fergana Valley in far easte ...

in Ferghâna valley near

Tashkent Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of ...

, and from an early age it was obvious she had a great gift as a singer. This nearly resulted in her being channelled into a career as an opera singer, but she was inexorably drawn towards the slow, aching music of her own ancient culture, something that seemed almost pre-ordained by her name, which means 'ascent to God' or simply 'prayer'. She is frequently accompanied by her mentor, the famous rubab player, Shawqat Mirzae

Her repertoire includes many of his compositions, and she usually performs with his ensemble. Typically the group use local instruments such as the

dutar The ''dutar'' (also ''Dotara, dotar''; fa, دوتار, dutâr; russian: Дутар; tg, дутор; ug, دۇتار, ucy=Дутар, Dutar; uz, dutor; ; dng, Дутар) is a traditional Iranian long-necked two-stringed lute found in Iran and ...

(two stringed lute), the

tanbur The term ''Tanbur'' ( fa, تنبور, ) can refer to various long-necked string instruments originating in Mesopotamia, Southern or Central Asia. According to the ''New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', "terminology presents a compli ...

(3-stinged lute), a gidjak spike fiddle, doira frame drum,

ney The ''ney'' ( fa, Ney/نی, ar, Al-Nāy/الناي), is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Persian music and Arabic music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. The ney has been played continually ...

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

and at times the chang zither. Those lucky enough to attend one of her rare concerts abroad will witness a sumptuously dressed performer of startling gravitas and charisma, with long pigtails trailing down to her waist. In 1997, she won the International Music Festival . In 2005, she performed at the Austrian Music Festival ''Glatt und Verkehrt''. Only two recordings of her music are widely available – the first for the French label Ocora (1994) and the most recent (1997) on Germany's Network label, which has the subtitle ''A Haunting Voice''.

External links

*
BBC Radio 3: ''Awards for World Music 2004''

Муножот Йўлчиева / Munojot Yo'lchiyeva – Ushshoq / Ушшоқ

Munojat Yo'lchiyeva konserti 19 06 09
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yo'Lchiyeva, Munojot 1960 births Living people 21st-century Uzbekistani women singers People from Fergana Region 20th-century Uzbekistani women singers

Professional career

Further reading

External links