Light, arising from the East.

«I have always had my inspiration from the East»

Anry Matiss.

Summer, 2001 there would be Third «Sharq Taronalari»(which means «Rhythm of the East») international music festival  held in Samarkand.

In recent years there are three intermnational music forums being simultaneousely carried out, these are: «Ilkhom XX» - vanguard  music festival;  festival of symphonic music, and «Sharq Taronalari» traditional music festival. Each of them is signing the diversity and variety  of art culture of Uzbekistan.

By asking ourselves what is the meaning of «Sharq Taronalari» festival has in the world culture, we decided to turn to music specialists, composers and scientists of Uzbekistan.  All of them started their reply with the same beginning - ancient roots of music culture of Central Asia and history of music instruments, well known for more than two thousand years.

Brief look at the past.

In last decade ast culture of Central Asia has attracted intent look of the world society. Since independence act od Uzbekistan, it has gained special political, geopolitical  and cultural status, becoming the centre of the asian culture.

It is not a secret anymore, that some centuries ago, there were many countries with highly developed civilization  in the East, including today’s Central Asia.

There are many signs of it, like memorials of written language and art, discovered by  archaeologists on the territory of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan’s  music scientists F.Karomatov and T.Vizgo in their encyclopedical  monography «The history of music illustrated», printed in Germany, summarized the whole existing arhaeological materialaccording with some music instruments pictures.

On the famous Ayratam «Musicians» fresco, dated by the Bactria states frontiers there are women depicted, playing these music instruments.

 The history of musci development of Central Asia is very interesting phenomenon of world civilization.

Nevertheless, approximately 500 years ago sea ways opening has influenced on weakening of trade, and the same time, cultural relationships  between West and East, thus Eastern culture  became closed for Europe.

But today, on the crossroads of two milleniums, the world is again discovering East, incuding Oriental melodies, wishing to take a new fresh brath of tradionality.

And it seems, that «Shark Taronalari» is attracting not only orientalists, musicians, but also all, who is really interested in music.

How it was.

In 1997 the firs «Sharq Taronalari» International music festival was held in Samarkand, and it was casual fact. The city, celebrating its 2500 anniversary, which was also conquered by Alexandr Makedonski, has its special Eastern spirit. On the background of historical monuments, music is felt in special way.

And, it’s also intersting, that both od first two festivals Grand Prix went to in 1997, Simara Imonova(Azerbaydjan); and in 1999 - to Nasiba Sattarova(Uzbekistan). Evidently, despite the diversity of music instrument women’s voice is the most exciting one.

Beside competition program, its opening is accompanied with great show. There is a creative personnel involved - Bakhadir Yuldashev and Nabi Abdurakhmanov, art designers, sound and light specialists, dancing and music ensembles.

In 1997 it was a music show, called «Great Silk road»(author is Adiba Sharipova, composer is Mustofo Bofoev). There is a number of music and dancing frames in it, where the culture of such countries as China, India, Iran and Western Europe was expressed with wonderful piano playing by Adiba  Sharipova. The sythesis of music, dances, theatre, laser show, outstanding directorship of «square theatre» has made a great imagination to the guests. This show was also presented in Odeon theatre in Paris in 1997,calling very positive reaction from French press nad viewers.

Aim of such shows is introduction into Uzbek culture, where Eastern traditions and Western innovations are interweaved.

In 1999 on the stage of ancient Registan square there was «Bu ajib dunyo»(This wonderful world) show presented.

What’s next?

In summer, 2001 the «Sharq taronalari» festival starts with musical show «Everything is you», dedicated to 560 anniversary of great poet Alisher Navoi.

The composer Mustafo Bofoev has concieved  show, where elements of six  «Shash makoms» are colliding with such masterpieces of classical music as «Moon sonata» by Bethoven, «Bolero» by Ravel, «Swan» by Saint-Saince, First symphony of Tchaikovski and some other musical pearls. This decision is made in order to author’s idea of introducin musical masterpieces of uzbek makoms to world encyclopedia, including great stratum of traditional Eastern music.

Additionally, many of great creative collectives will be involved to play in this show. Pianist Adiba Sharipova, National symphonic Orchestra, directed by Quvonch Usmonov, TV and Radio Company Choir,  vocal leaders are going to collide two directions of music culture - Western and Eastern.

As the basis of Mustafo Bofoev’s theme is deep philosophical  ideas - relationships  of spiritual heritage with contemporary culture.

RESUME.

Today world is discovering again new riches of Eastern people. So, forthcoming «Sharq Taronalari» music festival  is of of the means of such integration. Summing up the results of previous two festivals and waiting for the third one, it is possible to say, that this musical forum has its own place in the rank of international festivals. Its significance in the world musical culture is raising, resulting from applications to participation in this festival, coming from different corners of the world. If there were 26 countries, taking part in the first festival, there were 30 in the second one, so there are much more expected in the next festival.

Special meaning of the festival is concluded with  musical simposium, which, summing up theoretical basis  of vocal skills of traditional music is creating theary and practice symbiosys.

«Sharq Taronalari» festival is also encouraging development of arts synthesis of Uzbekistan, its «Square theatres», since there is a number of serious creative ensembles involved in it.

Symphonic orchestras and composers, traditional music ensembles and creative collectives, artists from opera and drama theatres, theatre and decorations designers, as well as directors are trying to make a synthesis  of theses stratums of ancient  culture with modern innovations.

Therefore, West is getting closer to East, and vise versa, which is very contributive to glogal culture of the world.

Ph.D. of Arts,

Gulsara Babadjanova.