Oriented on making people closer

Not so long ago, the recognized master of Turkmen music, composer Danatar Hydyrov received a message from his respected mentor - Russian composer, Honored Artist and professor of the Moscow Conservatory Konstantin Batashov and shared this pleasant news with us.

The fact is that a Russian colleague sent him an e-mail recording of a work he had previously written. Although the composer Batashov himself lives far away, he has become close to Turkmen musicians for a long time. Among his works there are works related to the Turkmen theme. Agree, it is very interesting to hear music born on Russian soil, but with a Turkmen soul, and even written by the hand of a master. This time the electronic "package" from the composer contained a vocal cycle on the words of Magtymguly.

Students and teachers of the Composition department of the Turkmen National Conservatory, and not only they, are already familiar with the works of the Russian composer, a native of Azerbaijan. So, last year, an audition of Konstantin Batashov's chamber-instrumental composition "Turkmen Suite" on folk themes (taken from the book of Uspensky and Belyaev "Turkmen Music") for violin, flute, cello and piano was organized. By the way, this work by the composer Batashov took first place in one of the major creative competitions.

In a five-part suite (the names of the parts of which: "Bagshy ccompetition, "Lullaby", "Girls' Game", "Spring", "Festive procession") the apparent simplicity and rigor are masterfully combined with restrained Turkmen motifs and intonations. The rhythmic pattern of the instrumental parts resembles the turns characteristic of dutar and gyjak music. Not only young composers and their mentors, but also students and teachers of other specialties gathered to listen and discuss this composition, which was held at the Turkmen Conservatory. The score and recording of the work were then transferred to the performing departments for analysis and learning.

As for the vocal cycle on Magtymguly’s poems for baritone and piano, as soon as his recording was received, the young composers and their teachers gathered to listen to it. The composition consists of seven romances "Braids and Dutar", "Mercy", "Appeal", "Disappointment", "Azerbaijan", "Give" translated into Russian by George Shengeli. The content of the poems includes philosophical, lyrical, patriotic themes.

The Russian composer conveys the Turkmen flavor with the help of vorschlags, chords and strokes, imitating the sound of a dutar, then the riding of a horseman on a horse, and the melodic fabric itself is saturated with the harmonies inherent in the nature of Turkmen music – tart intervals, seconds and quarts.

The piano part is characterized by complexity and richness of musical techniques that require virtuoso technique and skill from the pianist. The notes contain author's remarks regarding the nuances of performance, and there are also interesting elements of the composer's writing, referring to sonoristics – one of the techniques based on a combination of different timbres and sounds.

The texture of the romance "Disappointment" is interesting, the distinctive feature of which is a minimum of accompaniment in some parts of the work. It can be said that sometimes the soloist has to sing almost a capella, which is most likely caused by the content of the verses, which talk about loneliness, loss and hopelessness.

The singer's part is difficult, and requires special performing skills. But this is what makes the cycle interesting, both for vocalists and pianists. Musicologists and composers will also find a lot of interesting things for themselves in these notes.

It remains only to thank the composer Batashov for this musical greeting from Russia and a wonderful gift.

Ayna SHIROVA

Photo: mosconsv.ru