The Mukams Palace of the State Cultural Centre held opening ceremony of International scientific conference and festival “Ancient Sources of Music Arts”.Scientists and specialists including musicologists, philologists, art and cultural experts as well as art masters from the Russian Federation, USA, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea, India, turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan came to Turkmen capital for participation in the event organized by the Ministry of Culture.
International forum dedicated to the sources of music art acquires special importance in the context of the slogan of 2018 “Turkmenistan is the Heart of the Great Silk Road”.
It is obvious that the place of this ancient transnational route in the history is defined not only by economic categories but also by intensive cultural, scientific and educational mutual enrichment and artistic talent of the nations who lived in the Eurasian continent and formed up considerable part of historical and cultural heritage of the humankind.
Owing to friendly neighbouring relations and spiritual and cultural traditions, The Silk Road made strong connection between many nations, having influenced the appearance of classical Eurasian cultures.Being recognized peace-making and large cultural centre of the region, our country restores the Silk Road as one of the integration models of the development, demonstrates the willingness to wide cooperation and scientific exchange, having calling up to the mutual enrichment of the cultures by own example.
In this context, it is worth mentioning that the idea of peace-making mission of art is laid as the basis of the book by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov “Music of Peace, Music of Friendship and Brotherhood” narrating about outstanding Turkmen musician Shukur-bakhshy through the prism of good neighbourhood policy of our state.
Comprehensive study of cultural sources of the nations of the world including the musical one the subject of the agenda of current international forum in Ashgabat, is to support the activation of humanitarian partnership.
Members of the Government of the country, heads of cultural sphere, representatives of artistic intelligentsia, mass media, professors, lecturers and student of profile educational institutes gathered in the hall of the Mukams Palace.
Scientists and specialists from Russia, USA, Japan, France, Korea, Iran, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan took part in the work of plenary session held under scientific conference.Director of the Programme of Culture History of Asian countries of Smithsonian Institution (USA) Paul Michael Taylor, who cooperate productively for a long time with our country, highlighted the role of current international forum in the study of the sources of spiritual heritage of the humankind.
American scientist told about the work carried out by Smithsonian Institution for the popularization of cultural heritage of Turkmen nation, in particular publishing of Magtumguly Fragi works and the books dedicated to the art master of Turkmenistan that were presented to the museums and libraries of USA, Europe but owing to modern technologies are available for the readers in many countries of the world.
Director of the State Music Culture of Azerbaijan, Honoured Cultural Worker of the Republic of Azerbaijan Alla Bayramova introduced the work for preservation of musical heritage performed by her organization.
Speech of candidate of art sciences, Honoured Art Master of Turkmenistan, senior scientist of Russian Institute of History of Arts (St.Petersburg) Nailya Glazunova was filled with the love to Turkmen music, to which she devoted her scientific activity.
Board Chairman of the Public Association the Centre of Traditional Music “Ustatshakirt”, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Senior Scientist of Ch, Aytmatov Institute of Language and Literature of National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Raziya Syrdybayeva dedicated her speech to the roles of music art in the development of Turkmen and other similar cultures.
Study of music folklore as ancient layer of culture of the nations of the world was the main subject of the report of composer, Department Head of Performance Art of the Centre of Asian Culture of the Republic of Korea Kim Heyong.
Professor of History and Theory of Uzbek Makoma Art Department of the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan Rustambek Abdullayev, Scientific associate of Iranian SAMT University, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Turkmenistan Mohammad Javad Abolgasemi, French player of oriental musical instruments Iban Perret, member of Japanese band Toru Sasaki noted the importance of current International Scientific Conference and Festival in protection of spiritual heritage, enrichment of the knowledge as well as in the development of cooperation in their speeches.
Highlighting the appropriateness of current meeting under the forum in Ashgabat, the participants expressed the gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the policy, which priority directions are the development of science and culture, comprehensive support of the scientists, activation of international contacts in humanitarian sphere.
The inclusion of the sample of destan art the Epic of Gyorogly and kushtdepdy singing and dancing art to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Heritage in 2015 and 2017 respectively was noted as the evidence of such large-scale work.
Realizing that this is the science and culture, which are the moving power of social development, the great Turkmen ancestors made biggest libraries and scientific centres, opened observatories and encouraged the development of art.
Hence, it is good that the connection of times is not broken finding the embodiment in selfless activity of the President of Turkmenistan on study and popularization of national cultural heritage, the reports mentioned.
Exhibition expanded in the foyer of the Mukams Palace was original addition to scientific forum.The exposition dedicated to the development of versatile world of art of our country presented the works of the artists, jewellers and craftsmen, musical instruments, book production and photos.
Special place was allocated for the works of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov about national culture and art.Celebration atmosphere was supported by the performance of Turkmen artists.The conference continued in the afternoon in sections sessions organized in the Museum of Visual Arts, State Academy of Arts and State Museum of the State Cultural Centre. “National music as a part of historical and cultural heritage”, “Modern issues of folklore: Methods and search for new approaches in mastering of the traditions of national folklore”, “Art images in poetic folklore and music art” and other were among the main subjects of the reports.
Scientists presented interesting archaeological information about ancient history of music traditions of Turkmen people.Number of speeches was about the special features of the melody and composition of the mukams, bakhshy art and about the main Turkmen musical instrument the dutar.
The role of the bakhshys in national culture, succession of the mentorship and foundation of variety of art schools were highlighted.The study of art of outstanding Turkmen composers and musicians was in the centre of the discussion.
Keen interest was raised by the reports about music art and musical instruments of different nations.In the evening, the participants of the concert of friendship, which was held with success on the stage of Magtumguly Music and Drama Theatre, demonstrated their skills.
The concert programme reflected the main ideological direction of international forum, which is aimed at mutual enrichment of the cultures, friendship and harmony.On the next day, art events and meetings are to be held under International scientific conference and festival “Ancient Sources of Music Art”.
Foreign guests will continue looking around the places of interest of Turkmen capital.