The traditions of folk performance in Turkmenistan date back to ancient times, and the art of bagshy is recognized as a national treasure and included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage. One of the prominent representatives of this art is musician and composer Sahy Jepbarov, whose creative career coincided with the period of the establishment of professional music in the country. This was shared by Elmira Oveniyazova, a teacher at the Sahy Jepbarov Special School of Arts in the city of Arkadag, in an interview with the Vestiabad news agency.

The musician was a student of the folk bagshy Tachmammet Suhangulyyev and Hally Bagshy, which influenced his unique performing and compositional style. He composed over 200 songs to the lyrics of both modern and classical Turkmen poets.

The archives of Turkmen Radio store recordings of Sahy Jepbarov’s songs made in the 1930s. In 1929, he created the first folk instrument ensemble at the Dramatic Theatre in the capital and later founded musical groups in the cities of Mary and Gyzyl Arbat. From 1939 to 1944, he was the leader and soloist of the State Philharmonic of Ashgabat, and in 1940, he became one of the first leaders of the Union of Composers of Turkmenistan.

In January 2025, Sakhy Jepbarov will turn 120 years old. To honor the anniversary, a conference will be held in Arkadag with the participation of distinguished guests, including People's Artist Saragt Babaev, People's Artist Yolaman Nuryyev, and Deputy Sahyberdi Jepbarov. The concert will feature songs by Sahy Jepbarov set to the lyrics of

Magtymguly, Gara Seyitliyev, and Kerim Gurbannepesov, as well as compositions dedicated to the legendary bagshy.

ORIENT news