Today, the Palace of Mukams of the State Cultural Center hosted a festive event on the occasion of including the dutar making craft, dutar playing musical art and the art of bakhshi in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This idea was reflected in the content of a conference and exhibition organized under at the Palace of Mukams, which were attended by members of the Government, leaders and representatives of the culture and scientific institutions, the media, public organizations, related institutes and universities, and the country’s creative community.

On the instructions of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov a ceremony was held to announce the names of distinguished masters of making dutar from the velayats and the capital city, who were awarded the title “Çeper döredijiligiň halk ussasy” and relevant certificates. Expressing gratitude to the head of state, they assured that they would continue the traditions of their glorious ancestors, as well as to apply every effort and skill to make this instrument, a symbol of the musical culture of the Turkmens, which has been an indispensable attribute of all folk and mass festivities in Turkmenistan from ancient times to this day.

The literary and musical composition “Dutar janly diýilýändir türkmene”, dedicated by the artists of the Main Drama Theater of the country to outstanding representatives of the national musical art, was a wonderful gift for the audience. Images of bakhshi, unsurpassed performers of destans, whose names the people still keep in memory, compose legends and songs about them, were presented on a huge screen,.

The performance of the ensemble of dutar players “Halkyň Arkadagly zamanasy!”, the main idea of this mini-performance, was a striking illustration of the enduring significance and continuity of the traditions of musical art.

The speakers highlighted the enduring importance of the book by the President of Turkmenistan “Bakhshi - Harbingers of the People’s Happiness”, in which the multifaceted art of singer-musicians is presented as an example of high professionalism that has been developing on the basis of centuries-old artistic traditions and improving in performing practice by each new generation.

Particular attention was paid to the literary work “Music of Peace, Music of Friendship and Brotherhood” by the leader of the nation about the peacemaking mission of art, describing great Turkmen musician Shukur Bakhshi.

Frames from the known film “Shukur Bakhshi” were a striking illustration of the lines from the book by the leader of the nation.

The conference participants underscored the importance of the new competition “Çalsana, bagşy!”, announced in the country with the aim to widely popularize around the world the dutar making craft, dutar playing musical art and the art of bakhshi, improve the traditions of mentoring and identify new talents.

The presentations by the speakers alternated with bright musical compositions performed by the united group of bakhshi from all velayats, women bakhshi, famous folk singers and soloists starting their career in art. The artists put all their soul and talent into the performance of each piece.

The audience had the opportunity to enjoy an excellent performance, where the musical features of the country’s regions were combined, as well as to listen to the fascinating sounds of ancient instruments.

Folk melodies and songs, as well as works by contemporary composers, glorifying the beauty of their native land, the creative strength of the people, the constructive power of the Prosperous Epoch of the Powerful State, were performed on the stage of the Palace of Mukams.

The concert program, which ended with a bright musical composition “ARKADAGA GUWANÝAN”, reflected the basic ideological focus of the present festive event aimed at glorifying the Turkmen musical culture and its peace-building principle.

An exhibition organized in the foyer of the Palace of Mukam was a kind of continuation of the ceremonial conference. Its exposition, showing the development of the multifaceted world of folk musical art in our country, presented paintings by artists, products of jewelers and artisans, musical instruments, books, photographic materials. A special place was designated for the works by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov about the national culture and art.

The exhibits described the creative work of famous folk musicians, artisans and virtuosic art figures, popularizers of Turkmen folk music.

The traditions of continuity and mentoring were reflected in performances by the bakhshi and the famous artisans who demonstrated the dutar making process.

The celebration participants adopted the Address of Appreciation to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, expressing deep gratitude to the leader of the nation for the policy being pursued, the priority of which is the development of national culture, the strengthening of international contacts in the humanitarian fields.

Events to celebrate the dutar making craft, dutar playing musical art and the art of bakhshi in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity continue.

On the instructions of the leader of the nation, TV recordings of the concerts of bakhshi musicians will be organized in the “Türkmeniň Ak öýi” buildings in all velayats within the next few days, with their subsequent broadcast on the air.

Conferences, concerts, exhibitions, creative meetings and many other events will be held in museums and libraries, concert halls, and at relevant institutions of higher education and public organizations of the country. Theatrical performances, film and television premieres will be dedicated to the significant occasion.