The music of
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked cou ...
has reflected the diverse influences that have shaped the country. It is very similar to the music of the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
and is characterized by complicated
rhythm
Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular recu ...
s and
meter
The metre (British spelling) or meter (American spelling; see spelling differences) (from the French unit , from the Greek noun , "measure"), symbol m, is the primary unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), though its prefi ...
s. Because of the long history of music in the country and the large variety of music styles and
musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person who pl ...
s, Uzbekistan is often regarded as one of the most musically diverse countries in
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
.
Classical music of Uzbekistan
The music of what is now Uzbekistan has a very long and rich history.
Shashmaqam
Shashmaqam (russian: Шашмаком; uz, shashmaqom; tg, шашмақом; fa, ششمقام) is a Central Asian musical genre (typical of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) which may have developed in the city of Bukhara. Shashmaqam means the six ...
, a Central Asian classical music style, is believed to have arisen in the cities of
Bukhara
Bukhara (Uzbek language, Uzbek: /, ; tg, Бухоро, ) is the List of cities in Uzbekistan, seventh-largest city in Uzbekistan, with a population of 280,187 , and the capital of Bukhara Region.
People have inhabited the region around Bukhara ...
and
Samarqand
fa, سمرقند
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from the top: Registan square, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, view inside Shah-i-Zin ...
in the late 16th century. The term "shashmaqam" translates as ''six maqams'' and refers to the structure of music with six sections in different
musical mode
In music theory, the term mode or ''modus'' is used in a number of distinct senses, depending on context.
Its most common use may be described as a type of musical scale coupled with a set of characteristic melodic and harmonic behaviors. It ...
s, similar to classical
Persian traditional music
Persian traditional music or Iranian traditional music, also known as Persian classical music or Iranian classical music, refers to the classical music of Iran (also known as ''Persia''). It consists of characteristics developed through the coun ...
. Interludes of spoken
Sufi poetry interrupt the music, typically beginning at a low
register
Register or registration may refer to:
Arts entertainment, and media Music
* Register (music), the relative "height" or range of a note, melody, part, instrument, etc.
* ''Register'', a 2017 album by Travis Miller
* Registration (organ), the ...
and gradually ascending to a climax before calming back down to the beginning tone.
After
Turkestan
Turkestan, also spelled Turkistan ( fa, ترکستان, Torkestân, lit=Land of the Turks), is a historical region in Central Asia corresponding to the regions of Transoxiana and Xinjiang.
Overview
Known as Turan to the Persians, western Turke ...
became part of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
in the 19th century, first attempts were taken to record national melodies of Turkestan. Russian musicians helped preserve these melodies by introducing
musical notation
Music notation or musical notation is any system used to visually represent aurally perceived music played with instruments or sung by the human voice through the use of written, printed, or otherwise-produced symbols, including notation fo ...
in the region.
In the 1950s, Uzbek folk music became less popular, and the genre was barred from radio stations by the
Soviets
Soviet people ( rus, сове́тский наро́д, r=sovyétsky naród), or citizens of the USSR ( rus, гра́ждане СССР, grázhdanye SSSR), was an umbrella demonym for the population of the Soviet Union.
Nationality policy in th ...
. They did not completely dispel the music. Although banned, folk musical groups continued to play their music in their own ways and spread it individually. After
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked cou ...
gained independence from the
USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
in the early 1990s, public interest revived in traditional Uzbek music. Nowadays Uzbek television and radio stations regularly play traditional music.
The people's Artist of Uzbekistan
Turgun Alimatov
Turgun Alimatov ( uz, Turgʻun Alimatov; 20 January 1922 – 17 December 2008) was a leading Uzbek classic music and shashmaqam player and composer of 20th century folk and classic music. He was a master performer of tanbur
The term ''Tanbur ...
is an Uzbek classical and folklore composer, and
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 ...
,
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 ...
, and
sato player. His compositions include "Segah", "Chorgoh", "Buzruk", "Navo", and "Tanovar". His image is associated with national pride and has been presented as the symbol of Uzbek classical music to the world.
Another well-known Uzbek composer is Muhammadjon Mirzayev. His most famous compositions include "Bahor valsi" ("The Spring Waltz") and "Sarvinoz". "Bahor valsi" is played on Uzbek television and radio channels every spring.
Sherali Joʻrayev
Sherali" Jorayev ( uz, Sherali Jorayev / Шерали Жўраев, russian: Шермат "Шерали" Джураев) is an Uzbek people, Uzbek singer, songwriter, poet, and actor. He is the People's artist of Uzbekistan. He has been an influen ...
is a singer of traditional Uzbek music. However, he has fallen out of favour with the
Uzbek government
The Republic of Uzbekistan is a presidential constitutional republic, whereby the President of Uzbekistan is head of state. Executive power is exercised by the government and by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.
Legislative power is vested in t ...
, who have banned his performances on Uzbek TV as well as his public performances since 2002. He still performs at Uzbek wedding parties and in other countries to popular acclaim.
In recent years, singers such as
Yulduz Usmonova
Yulduz Usmonova ( uz, Yulduz Usmonova, Юлдуз Усмонова) (born December 12, 1963) is an Uzbek singer, song-writer, composer and actress. She is the People's artist of Uzbekistan and honored artist of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajik ...
and
Sevara Nazarkhan
Sevara Nazarkhan ( uz, Sevara Nazarxon, Севара Назархон) is an Uzbek singer, songwriter, and musician. Her musical style incorporates Uzbek folk and contemporary music. Nazarkhan has achieved worldwide fame and has collaborated wi ...
have brought Uzbek music to global audiences by mixing traditional melodies with modern rhythms and instrumentation.
In the late 2000s, Ozodbek Nazarbekov mixed contemporary music with elements of traditional Uzbek music.
Western Classical music in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has also produced many notable composers and performers in the European classical art music idiom, and is home to notable symphony orchestras, festivals, and contemporary music ensembles. The State Conservatory of Uzbekistan, based in
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 founded in 1936, is the nation's leading higher education institution for the professional training of musicians.
Contemporary music of Uzbekistan
Many forms of popular music, including
folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
,
pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop!, a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Albums
* ''Pop'' (G ...
, and
rock music
Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as " rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States an ...
, have particularly flourished in Uzbekistan since the early 1990s. Uzbek pop music is well developed, and enjoys mainstream success via pop music media and various radio stations.
Many Uzbek singers such as
Sevara Nazarkhan
Sevara Nazarkhan ( uz, Sevara Nazarxon, Севара Назархон) is an Uzbek singer, songwriter, and musician. Her musical style incorporates Uzbek folk and contemporary music. Nazarkhan has achieved worldwide fame and has collaborated wi ...
and
Sogdiana Fedorinskaya
Sogdiana (Russian language, Russian: Согдиана), also known as Sogdiana Fedorinskaya (Russian language, Russian: Согдиана Федоринская), born as Oksana Vladimirovna Nechitaylo (Russian language, Russian: Оксана В ...
,
Rayhon Ganieva
Rayhon Gʻaniyeva ( uz, Rayhon Gʻaniyeva / Райҳон Ғаниева; russian: Райхон Ганиева; born 16 September 1978, in Tashkent), better known simply as Rayhon, is an Uzbek singer, songwriter, and film actress. She is an honored ...
have achieved commercial success not only in Uzbekistan but also in other
CIS
Cis or cis- may refer to:
Places
* Cis, Trentino, in Italy
* In Poland:
** Cis, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central
** Cis, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, north
Math, science and biology
* cis (mathematics) (cis(''θ'')), a trigonome ...
countries such as
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
, and
Tajikistan
Tajikistan (, ; tg, Тоҷикистон, Tojikiston; russian: Таджикистан, Tadzhikistan), officially the Republic of Tajikistan ( tg, Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Jumhurii Tojikiston), is a landlocked country in Centr ...
.
Rock
![All Tomorrow's Parties at IlkhomRockFest, June 22, 2013](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/All_Tomorrow%27s_Parties_at_IlkhomRockFest%2C_June_22%2C_2013..jpg)
Currently
rock music
Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as " rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States an ...
enjoys less popularity than
pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describe ...
in Uzbekistan.
An Uzbekistani
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
band who has some degree of recognition is Night Wind, a
folk metal
Folk metal is a fusion genre of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. It is characterised by the widespread use of folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles (for exampl ...
group. Other Uzbekistani metal groups include Iced Warm, Salupa, Zindan, and Agoniya ().
Rap
Rap music
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
has become popular among Uzbek youth. Rappers such as
Shoxrux became very popular among young people in the 2000s. However, the Uzbek government censors rap music. It has set up a special body to censor rap music because it believes this type of music does not fit the Uzbek musical culture.
Musicians
*
Ari Babakhanov
*
Lola Astanova
Artists and bands
Uzbek artists
![Lola Yuldasheva (23](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Lola_Yuldasheva_%2823.03.2012%29.jpg)
*
Alisher Uzoqov
* Anvar Gʻaniyev
*
Botir Zokirov
Botir Zokirov (26 April 1936 – 23 January 1985) was a Soviet and Uzbek singer, writer, poet, painter and actor, who is considered to be the founder of Uzbek pop music. He is the People's artist of Uzbekistan.
Biography
Zokirov studied at th ...
*
Botir Khusanbaev
*
Eson Kandov
Eson Kandov (*October 31, 1941 in Tashkent) was an singer and musician from Uzbekistan with a successful career during the 1960-80s. He was awarded the distinction as Honored Artist of the Uzbek SSR in 1974 and is considered the first artist who ...
*
Daler Xonzoda
Daler Xonzoda at times Daler Khonzoda ( uz, Daler Xonzoda, russian: link=no, Далер Хонзода, born Khonov Daler Husniddinovich in Tursunzoda province of Tajikistan on April 1, 1989) is a Tajik pop singer who sings in the Uzbek, Engli ...
![Daler Xonzoda](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Daler_Xonzoda.JPG)
*
Feruza Jumaniyozova
Feruza Jumaniyozova ( uz, Феруза Жуманиёзова, Феруза Джуманиязова) is an Uzbek pop singer who sings in Uzbek and Tajik. She was born in 1984 in Khorezm
Khwarazm (; Old Persian: ''Hwârazmiya''; fa, ...
![Rayhon Gʻaniyeva in 2012](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Rayhon_G%CA%BBaniyeva_in_2012.jpg)
*
Lola Yoʻldosheva
*
Rayhon
Rayhon Gʻaniyeva ( uz, Rayhon Gʻaniyeva / Райҳон Ғаниева; russian: Райхон Ганиева; born 16 September 1978, in Tashkent), better known simply as Rayhon, is an Uzbek singer, songwriter, and film actress. She is an honored ...
*
Sevara Nazarkhan
Sevara Nazarkhan ( uz, Sevara Nazarxon, Севара Назархон) is an Uzbek singer, songwriter, and musician. Her musical style incorporates Uzbek folk and contemporary music. Nazarkhan has achieved worldwide fame and has collaborated wi ...
*
Yulduz Turdiyeva
*
Ozodbek Nazarbekov
*
Botir Qodirov
*
Xamdam Sobirov
Uzbek bands
*
Bolalar
Bolalar are an Uzbekistan, Uzbek pop-rock band formed in 1989 by Tohir Sodiqov, Bahodir Poʻlatov, Javohir Zokirov, and Ruslan Sharipov. The band currently consists of members Tohir Sodiqov (lead vocalist, lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Timur Gaynut ...
*
Dado
* Night Wind
*
Yalla
*
Benom
*
Ummon
Composers in the western classical tradition
* Dilorom Saidaminova
*Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky
* Felix Yanov-Yanovsky
* Mirsodiq Tojiyev
*
Mutavakkil Burhonov
* Polina Medyulyanova
Instruments
Many
musical instruments are played in Uzbekistan. Traditional instruments include:
String
![Pastimes of Central Asians](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Pastimes_of_Central_Asians._A_Musician_Playing_a_Gydzhak%2C_a_Stringed_Instrument_WDL10821.png)
*
Dutor (long-necked fretted lute)
*
Rubob (long-necked fretted lute)
*
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 ...
(long-necked fretted lute)
*
Tor
Tor, TOR or ToR may refer to:
Places
* Tor, Pallars, a village in Spain
* Tor, former name of Sloviansk, Ukraine, a city
* Mount Tor, Tasmania, Australia, an extinct volcano
* Tor Bay, Devon, England
* Tor River, Western New Guinea, Indonesia
Sc ...
(long-necked fretted lute)
*
Ud (long-necked fretted lute)
*
Gʻijjak (spike fiddle)
*
Chang (struck zither)
Wind
*
dili tuiduk
*
Karnay
The karna or karnay (russian: карнай; Arabic, fa, کرنا ''karnā'', ''qarnā'', Hindi ''karnā'', Tajik ''карнай'' ''karnai'', also ''karnaj'', Uzbek ''karnay'', Kazakh ''керней kernei'') is a metal natural trumpet. The ...
(long trumpet)
*
Nay (side-blown flute)
*
Qoʻshnay (clarinetlike instrument made from reed)
*
Surnay (loud oboe)
Percussion
*
Doira
Daf ( fa, دف) also known as Dâyere and Riq is a Middle Eastern (mainly Persians, Iranian) frame drum musical instrument, used in popular and classical music in South and Central Asia. It is also used in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, ...
(frame drum)
*
Dovul (drum)
*
Nogʻora (pot-shaped drum covered with leather on the top)
* Qoshiq (spoons)
*
Zang (bracelets)
References
External links
Uzbek Modern Music Website dedicated to modern popular Uzbek music
Uzbek Classical Music Website dedicated to traditional Uzbek music
History of Uzbek music Oriental Express
Uzbek Musicby Mark Dickens, Oxus Communications
the Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan
Tours of Uzbekistan
Eurasian music science journal scientific journal of music research founded by The state conservatory of Uzbekistan
{{Music of Asia
Uzbekistani