Sound Documents of Chinese Xinjiang Uighur Muqam Music 2007
| World/Ethnic | 3 CDs + Chinese Book | EAC-Flac 1 GB | MP3 320 Kbps 530 MB
This 3CD anthology is a part of the Book: Instruments Pics, Sound Documents of Chinese xinjiang Uighur Muqam Music, published by Chinese Central Conservatory Of Music. The pics and the musics were collected in four periods: 1950s, 1960s, 1980's, and 1990s up to now. there is no definitive date for each track in the book, and it seems that all tracks have no digital remastering so some sound quarlity are too bad, but obviously most of these recordings were very precious and never released openly even in China.
Music of the Uyghurs
The Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam is the general term for a variety of Muqam practices widespread among people in the
Xinjiang Uygur Autonmous Region. Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam is a composite of songs, dances, folk and classical music,
and is characterized by a diversity of content, dance styles, musical morphology and instruments.
The lyrics contain not only folk ballads but also poems written by classical Uyghur masters. Thus, the songs
reflect a wide range of styles such as poetry, proverbs, folk narratives and popular topics such as the praise
of love and contemplation of life, reflecting the history and contemporary life of Uyghur society.
The music of the Uyghur Muqam is characterized by variations and the continuity of musical patterns, indicating
a close affinity with the musical culture of China's central plains. The dancing skills involve unique steps,
rhythms and formations as well as figures such as flower-picking-by-mouth, bowl-carrying-on-head and imitation
of animals in solo dances.
The Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam has developed four main regional styles, namely the Twelve Muqam, Turpan Muqam , Hami
Muqam and Dolan Muqam,Twelve Muqam is known as the "mother of Uygur music." Legend has it in the mid-16th century,
aided by other musicians, the imperial concubine Amannisahan of the Yarkant Kingdom, who was also an esteemed
poetess and musician, devoted all her efforts to collecting and compiling Muqam music, which was then scattered
across areas populated by Uygur. She finally worked out 12 grand, yet light and entertaining compositions that
are now known as the Twelve Muqam.
The Twelve Muqam consist of sung poetry, stories, dance tunes and instrumental sections. Some of the lyrics of
the Muqam are drawn from the great Central Asian Chagatay poets.
After the founding of new China (1949), the local government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region made every
effort possible to preserve the Twelve Muqam. The whole set of the Twelve Muqam consists of 360 different
melodies and takes over 24 hours to play in full.
2 Xinjiang Uyghur MuqamoTurpan Muqam
Declarer: Shanshan County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonmous Region.
Each of the Turpan Muqam generally corresponds to one mode, and each is about thirty minutes in length.
Although no information on its historical transmission is currently available, musically there is much to
link the Turpan Muqam to the chong n?ghm? of the Twelve Muqam.
While the section names differ, there is correspondence in overall structure, rhythmic cycles and melodic
material. The preferred instrument for the Turpan Muqam is the satar bowed lute, plus t?mbür, dutar, chang
and dap frame drum accompanying voices.
3 Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam oHami Muqam
Declarer: Hami Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonmous Region.
Hami Muqam is a kind of large-scaleUyghur musical performance, including 12 sets of music and 258 songs.
During the development process Hami Muqam absorbed many musical elements from China's central plains, central
Asia and west Asia in the aspects of lyrics, style and structure.
4 Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam o Daolang Muqam
Declarer: Maigaiti County Xinjiang Uygur Autonmous Region.
Daolang people live around the Great Takelamagan Desert that is called the "Sea of Death" in Sinkiang.
In ancient times, it was cut off from the outside world, and production lagged behind, so hunting played an
important role.
The dancing content of the Daolang Muqam is the whole process of Daolang People's hunting lives: During the
overture, dancers lift their arms high, as if they are lifting the torch to light up thewildernessto hunt
wild animals. In the main part, dancers perform as if using the language of hunting wild animals and in the end,
the dancing team forms a square and dancers whirl cheerfully to show great joy after a successful hunt.
The distinguishing feature of Daolang Muqam music is that all sorts of instruments are played with energy and
people sing in different styles loudly and without restraint. They don't follow each other in melody. But
overall, there is no difference in the main melody. They singers harmonize and the musicians create multi-faceted
music that is full of artistic appeal.
Turdi Ahun with his son
Toward the end of the 1940s, the economy of Xinjiang was in recession and people lived in dire poverty.
The 12 Muqam was on the verge of extinction and its melody was hardly heard. Up to the 1950s, after the
founding of New China, there was only one person who could sing the complete 12 Muqam. He was Turdi Ahun.
The old 12 Muqam musician Turdi Ahun was born in a musician’s family in Yengisar County. He mastered the
12 Muqam at the age of 20. He then performed the musical suite for more than 50 years in Kashgar, Hotan and
other places. He could perform with tanbor, duttar, satar and rawap. His performance with satar was rated as
unique in Xinjiang.
After the founding of new China (1949), the local government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region made every
effort possible to preserve the "Twelve Muqam." In 1956, Muqam master Turdi Ahun and musician Wan Tongshu,
working with other assistants, took great pains to record most of the vocal melodies and librettos of the
"Twelve Muqam" on tape. They also recorded the music by hand. Their efforts paved the way for the renaissance
of this cultural tradition. In 1960, two volumes of "Twelve Muqam" sung by Turdi Ahun were published. The oral
cultural heritage was finally secured in the form of its first publication.
Disc.1
(01) Setar Solo- Muqam Charigah, Taz mughul
(02) Ajiek Solo- Muqam Ushaq, Taz mughul
(03) Khushtar Solo- Muqam Ushaq, Taz mughul
(04) Tambur Solo- Muqam Mushawrek, Muqaddima
(05) Dotar Solo- Muqam Chebiyat, Primier Dastan mughul
(06) Kashgar-Rawap Solo- Muqam Chebiyat, 2nd Dastan mughul
(07) Lli-Rawap Solo- Muqam Penjigah, Primier Dastan mughul
(08) Kanun Solo- Muqam Rak, Taz mughul
(09) Qhah Solo- Muqam Chebiyat, Jula mughul
(10) Ney Solo- Muqam Ajem, Muqaddima
(11) Balaman Solo- Muqam Mushawrek, Muqaddima
(12) Surnei Solo- pieces from Muqam Chebiyat
(13) Tambur & Dotar- Muqam Ozhal, Pasro mughul
(14) Setar, Qhah & Dapp- Muqam Rak, Taz mughul
(15) Ensemble- Selected pieces from Muqam Mushawrek
(16) Ensemble- Muqam Penjigah, Primier Dastan
(17) Ensemble- Muqam Ohzal, 3th Dastan mughul
(18) Ensemble- Muqam Ohzal, Taz mughul and ending
Disc.2
Track.1 is the greatest muqam master TURDI AHUN's historical recordings, the rest is a complete version of a classical Muqam: Muqam Nava.
(01) [TURDI AHUN] Muqam Ushaq - Muqaddima (performed by TURDI AHUN, 1950s)
(02) [Muqam Art Troupe of Xinjiang] Muqam Nawa - 1.Muqaddima, 2.Taz, 3.Taz mughul & ending
(03) [Muqam Art Troupe of Xinjiang] (con.) 1.Nuscha, 2.Jula, 3.Sanam, 4.Cong Salicqa, 5.Kichik Saliqa
(04) [Muqam Art Troupe of Xinjiang] (con.) 1.Kichik Saliqa mughul & ending, 2.Takit, 3-5.Dastan & mughul 1-3, 6.
(05) [Muqam Art Troupe of Xinjiang] (con.) 1.Dastan 4 mughul, 2.Mashrap 1-2, 3.Mashrap 3-4.
Disc.3
3 Local muqam: dolan muqam, turupan muqam, Hami muqam.
(01) [Unknown Artist] Dolan Ajiek Solo- Selirma
(02) [Awuti Azezi] Dolan Rawap Solo- Sim Bayawan (selected piece)
(03) [Artists of Magaiti courty] Dolan Muqam- Bashi Bayawan (from Magaiti courty)
(04) [Artists of Bachu courty] Dolan Muqam- Zul Bayawan (from Bachu courty)
(05) [Artists of Awat courty] Dolan Muqam- Alzhal Bayawan (from Awat courty)
(06) [Nulswan, Smayimaj] Turupan Muqam- Rak (selected piece).flac
(07) [Various] Turupan Muqam- Sava
(08) [Roz Zohpi] Hami Muqam- Dhadeljuah (selected piece, Ajiek Solo)
(09) [Shali Tumul] Hami Muqam Rawap Solo- selected piece of Hami Muqam
(10) [Artists of Hami] Hami Muqam- Rak (selected piece)
