Melodies from all over the world at the crossroad of cultures

Those who firstly decided to hold the international musical festival in ancient Samarkand, certainly, guessed on all hundred percent! Both time and place were chosen correctly - today the Sharq Taronalari festival (“Melodies of East”) which is held under the auspices of UNESCO, became traditional. Now Samarkand received guests already for the ninth time.

It is possible to say that Samarkand was lucky with a festival and festival was lucky with Samarkand. One of the most ancient cities of the world, the age-mate of ancient Rome, two thousand years was the major centre on the Great Silk Road between China and the Western world. In 2001 Samarkand was included by UNESCO in the list of the World Heritage; it received the honourable name “City -Crossroad of Cultures”.

Onetime in two years Samarkand becomes such crossroad again: here musicians gather from many countries of the world. Certainly, always there are winners at a festival, but here nobody feels himself won. And phrase traditional for journalistic reporting: “Each festival held in Samarkand, is unique”, completely corresponds to that occurs in the last days of August on the world famous square Registan - a unique monument of history and architecture.

The main goal of a festival in official language sounds in the following way: “broad promoting of the best achievements of national musical art, preservation and development of great traditions of the people, encouragement of talents in the field of music and a vocal, and also further expansion of the international creative relations, strengthening of mutual cultural and spiritual cooperation, hymn of ideas of the world, friendship and mutual understanding”. And it just that case when in life it turns out as on paper!

Musicians from 31 countries participated in the very first festival “Sharq Taronalari” in 1997. Today the geography is wider: there are not than 50 countries are presented here. “Sharq Taronalari” is popular not only in Asia. Old residents of a festival note that creative level of guests of Samarkand who has arrived from year to year grows to show the art.

At once it is necessary to make a reservation: there is no pop-music here – there is the best that around the world unite the concept of “folk”. In one day it is possible to listen to the Russian balalaika, the African drums, the Georgian choral singing and music of the Chinese national opera … And even, if the concert lasts five hours in a row, nobody leaves. Because it is interesting! And not only it is interesting, but also it is important. For this reason the festival besides by tradition is opened by the president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov who can not only say necessary words on the occasion, but also, for example, to start dancing together with hundred audience … And importance of a festival is emphasized also by the international scientific-theoretical conference, for participation in which the scientists from all over the world arrive and come. And they also have the subject to talk: “discussion of topical issues of modern existence and development of musical traditions”.

Prizes are handed over much at a festival, though the main award, of course, is a never-ending applause of public under the evening Samarkand sky on the square Registan. Winners always are welcomed especially hotly. This year the musicians of folklore collective from India with the soloist Rashmi Agarval got feel as the birthday men who got the Grand Prix.

The first awards were got by two groups: “Sadaye Pamir” from Afghanistan and “Lanaya” from Burkina Faso. Second awards are: “Pentan” from Great Britain, “Sorihyun Gayageum Byungchangdan” from South Korea and ensemble of classical music of the Chinese National Opera and Dance Drama Theatre. Third awards are: the musician-instrumentalist of the State conservatory of Uzbekistan Abror Zufarov, group of Japan “Chikuyusha” and the female Catch-PopString-Strong duet from Austria.

The special prize of UNESCO was won by SanamMarvi group from Pakistan and a prize of spectator sympathies - Galit Giat group from Israel.

The guests willingly shared the impressions about a festival with journalists:

Lavel Thomas James - the judge, composer, the producer and the director (USA):

— The Sharq Taronalari festival is an ideal scene for rapprochement of cultures and strengthening of relationship between the people, glorifications of such values as friendship and tolerance, peace and harmony. Thanks to this forum, musicians, singers, art critics have fine opportunity to exchange opinions, to increase the professionalism. Invaluable there will be also a communication with inhabitants who make thrifty use of an architectural and cultural heritage of the people. And beauty and greatness of architectural monuments of such truly beautiful city as Samarkand, will inspire on new creative searches.

Ne Rein Pak - the head of Sorihyun Gayageum Byungchangdan group (South Korea):

-Participation in this festival gives the chance to open new sides of music, to find friends, to exchange experience and ideas. After all, as we know, the culture and art served the development and strengthening of the relations between the people at all times.

Brahim El Mazned - the art director of the Timitar festival (Morocco):

— I became the witness of a grandiose celebration — the international musical festival “Sharq Taronalari”. On the importance it is more than simply a festival. It makes a deep sense. I will arrive here next time with pleasure because saw a lot of new, interesting, opened Uzbekistan for myself.

Gebert David Gabriel - the professor of university of Bergen (Norway):

- Musical traditions are an integral part of the general cultural heritage. The modern youth inclines towards hobby for music of entertaining character or pop music and this question is actual absolutely for all people and the world countries.

It seems to me that this international forum not only makes a worthy contribution to preservation and development of national musical and song art, but also unites people with different languages, culture and traditions, calls them for beauty and nobility.

Lala Guseynova - the secretary of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan:

- Being in Samarkand, we are especially impressed with its charm, the richest traditions of east culture which is inseparably linked with Islamic spirituality. In our countries much attention is paid to preservation and restoration of historical and architectural monuments, studying and restoration of traditional cultural values. This musical festival is unique that it literally unites all people. Here it is possible to meet the fans of art not only from east countries, but also from all over the world. I would call this musical forum as “festival of people of the world”.

Attapaybun Tinnakon - the representative of Pongland group (Thailand):

- Participants of this unique festival represent the different countries, national cultures and musical genres, but they are united by the main thing – sincere love to art. “Sharq Taronalari” unites a festival of national songs and melodies and strengthens by means of art the people of the different countries for the sake of the world, consent and humanity.

Al Harsi Yusuf Said - the musician from Oman:

- The similar forum uniting the performers from all continents deserves noteworthy and respect. We participate in this festival for the first time, representing a traditional Arab genre “Muscat chun”. Our group acted in musical college of Samarkand and we are very glad that the bewitching Arab melody caused delight in listeners. It once again proves that music is the universal language uniting all people of the world.

Diabat Dauda - the head of group of musicians (Burkina Faso):

- The beauty and greatness of architectural monuments of such truly beautiful city as Samarkand, inspires us to execute our music even more perfectly. “Sharq Taronalari” is an ideal arena for rapprochement of cultures and mutual trust strengthening between the people, glorifications of such values as friendship and tolerance, peace and harmony.

Kazakos Konstantinos - the national actor of Greece:

- The actions similar to “Sharq Taronalari” have huge value for preservation and revival of centuries-old cultural wealth of a human civilization. Unfortunately, in the modern world the national traditions are gradually lost and lose the positions, the essence of original musical art changes.
I consider that this international musical festival is fated to become a symbol of common efforts of the people of the various countries of the world on development and promoting of a world cultural heritage. It calls people for beauty, fine and noble, to preservation and development of unique musical heritage of people of the world.

Solomon Gogashvili - the head of group (Georgia):

- This musical forum is the bridge which is uniting and pulling together the people of the various countries, the arena of cultural dialogue, it bears the peace, consent and kindness.

Franci Suryadarma - the professor, the judge (Indonesia):

- Has to note that similar large musical forums and scientific conferences cause the increasing interest to art in the world. It is not the commercial project, it first of all serves the association of different people, with different languages, religion, customs and plays a significant role in establishment of bonds of the world and friendship between the countries.

That fact that the initiator of this grandiose cultural action is the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, certainly, testifies to close attention paid in the country to revival and preservation of centuries-old cultural wealth of national traditions.
***
Those who visited a festival in Samarkand, of course, want to return again here. Not casually, and musicians try to arrive for participation in “Sharq Taronalari” again. A lot of things will be remembered: that the total of participants and guests made about 600 people, the participants of a forum were served by 110 guides, and 210 girls “the growth of whom not lower than 170-175 cm” participated.

Certainly, it is interesting that 620 flags, 112 panels were hanged out, established 350 searchlights and 220 thousand of Dutch petunias and 20 thousand of saffron, catharanthus, gazania and other flowers were planted on streets of Samarkand. But the main thing that everyone takes the atmosphere of surprising warmth and friendship away from ancient Samarkand! Also the photoreport of the international portal “The world and we” from the international festival “Sharq Taronalari”-2013 tells about it.