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Music

Muqam and string instruments such as the rawap and dutar.

1 / Song and music

Highlights.

The dutar, an instrument of two strings

Music ／ دۇتار

The rawap, a plucked lute with a skin-covered bowl

Music ／ راۋاب

The tembur, a long-necked lute of five steel strings

Music ／ تەمبۇر

The satar, a bowed lute for the muqam

Music ／ ساتار

The dap, a frame drum played by hand

Music ／ داپ

How the Twelve Muqam is built

Music ／ ناخشا

2 ／ Muqam: song, dance and instruments

01UNESCO recognition

UNESCO proclaimed the Uyghur Muqam of Xinjiang in 2005 and inscribed it on its Representative List of intangible heritage in 2008. Muqam combines song, dance, folk and classical music, and its lyrics draw on folk ballads and on poems by classical Uyghur poets.

02Four regional styles

There are four main regional styles: the Twelve Muqam, Dolan Muqam, Turpan Muqam and Hami Muqam. The Twelve Muqam, as the name says, is made of twelve suites.

Sources (3)
  1. [1]UNESCO 無形文化遺産「Uyghur Muqam of Xinjiang」
  2. [2]ئۇيغۇر تىلىنىڭ ئىزاھلىق لۇغىتى（ug.wikipedia 転載）見出し語「ئون ئىككى مۇقام」「مۇقام」と十二の組曲名（راك، چەببىيات، مۇشاۋىرەك، چارگاھ، پەنجىگاھ، ئۇزھال، ئەجەم، ئوششاق، بايات، ناۋا، سىگاھ، ئىراق مۇقامى）
  3. [3]Wikipedia（英語版）「Muqam」

How they are played

dutar: The dutar is also found across Iran and Central Asia. Uyghur players usually pluck the strings, while Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek players both strum and pluck. Nylon and steel strings are now common as well.

The dutar, an instrument of two strings
3

The twelve muqam

Some sources list the 3rd and 11th suites the other way round.

  1. 01چوڭ نەغمەchong neghmeOpens with a long free-rhythm introduction and gradually speeds up.
  2. 02داستانdastanSongs taken from romantic narrative poems.
  3. 03مەشرەپmeshrepLively dance songs.

Sources (3)
  1. [1]ئۇيغۇر تىلىنىڭ ئىزاھلىق لۇغىتى（ug.wikipedia 転載）見出し語「ئون ئىككى مۇقام」「مۇقام」と十二の組曲名（راك، چەببىيات، مۇشاۋىرەك، چارگاھ، پەنجىگاھ، ئۇزھال، ئەجەم، ئوششاق، بايات، ناۋا، سىگاھ، ئىراق مۇقامى）
  2. [2]Wikipedia（ウイグル語版）「ئۇيغۇر ئون ئىككى مۇقامى」
  3. [3]Wikipedia（英語版）「Muqam」
4 / Glossary

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