Traditional classical music from Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan is one of the five republics in Central Asia, a territory that has been formed by the Chinese traditions on one side and the Arabic-Iranian on the other.The Uzbeks have a lot of things in common with the culture of the neighbours in Tajikistan because they have shared their country for centuries. This is tangible in the music. Most singers know both languages and they can unnoticeably switch between them in one and the same song.The music contains many characteristics of the classical Iranian and Arabic music. Their modal system is the ‘Shash Maqam’ which is closely related to Persian ‘Dastgáh’.
CDs
Sogdiana: die Stimme der Instrumente. Raumklang RK 9505
Tradition savante shash maquam. Buda 92639-2
Oral Traditons of Uzbekistan PlayaSound, 1997 PS 65196
Invisible Face Of The Beloved: Classical Music Of The Tajiks And Uzbeks. 2006 Smithonian Folkways SFW 40521
Acknowledgements to Centrale Discotheek, Rotterdam