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In 2024, the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Turkmen poet Magtymguly Fragi is included in the UNESCO List of Memorable Dates, which affirms the outstanding universal and enduring value of the classic’s work and its significance in world culture.

International recognition of the role and significance of Magtymguly’s work is marked by cultural events in honor of the anniversary in different countries of the world. For residents of the Russian Federation, the organizing committee of the VIII Moscow International Arts Festival “Sounds of Dutar” named after Nury Halmamedov prepared a varied and rich program dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly, setting the goal to maximally illuminate the sphere of spiritual wealth bequeathed by the poet-philosopher to humanity.

Many composers turned to the work of Magtymguly. It had a strong influence and was embodied in the works of another genius of the Turkmen people - Nury Halmamedov, whose name is given to the “Sounds of Dutar” festival. At the age of 19, Halmamedov wrote his first romance based on Fragi's poems. For young Nury, who had already experienced a lot in his life, the lines of Magtymguly’s poem “Exile” turned out to be consonant. With the increased tragic perception of the world characteristic of youth, he managed to comprehend and express in music the pain and sorrow of a person deprived of his homeland. Halmamedov's vocal cycle based on Magtymguly's poems is one of the world's musical masterpieces.

The organizing committee of the “Sounds of Dutar” festival spoke about the events prepared to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great poet Magtymguly Fragi. Here's a quick overview of them:

– The international literary competition of readers “The Universe of the Word”, dedicated to the cultural heritage of Magtymguly Fragi, is aimed at popularizing the poet’s work and works of Russian literature dedicated to Central Asia and the Middle East. The jury includes culture and art figures of the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan, theater and film artists, professors, teachers of theater universities.

– Under the auspices of the Russian Academy of Arts and the UNESCO Department of Fine Arts and Architecture of the Russian Academy of Arts, a competition of illustrations for Magtymguly’s poems “Reflection” will be held, represented by two types of fine art: painting and graphics. Based on the results of the competition, an exhibition of the best works will be held at the Russian Academy of Arts and the Center of Oriental Literature of the Russian State Library, and an artistic and poetic album with the works of the competition finalists will be released.

– Under the auspices of the Union of Composers of Eurasia and Russia, the Composers Competition “Musical Works on the Poems of Magtymguly Fragi” will be held. The competition is aimed at introducing the great heritage of world culture, popularizing the work of modern composers, presented in various musical styles and genres, enriching the modern performing repertoire and drawing attention to the poetic heritage of the great Turkmen poet and philosopher of the 18th century. Famous composers, musicologists and vocal teachers from Russia and Turkmenistan have been invited to join the jury of the competition.

– Project competition “Seeds of Wisdom: Lessons from Great Minds” . The purpose of the competition is to attract the attention of students of secondary and higher educational institutions and arouse interest in solving the problem of introducing children of secondary schools to the wealth of literary and musical creativity of different peoples using the example of the life and work of Magtymguly Fragi. The competition work consists of a video or presentation.

– Together with the Department of Music Editions and Sound Recordings of the Russian State Library, the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Magtymguly and His Role in World Culture” will be held in the Pashkov House on October 29.

– The festival will end with a grandiose gala concert, at which the mono-opera “Monologues of Magtymguly Fragi” by composer Mamed Huseynov will be performed.

Follow the events on the website www.dutar-sounds.ru

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Photo: provided by the organizing committee of the Sounds of Dutar festival