Oriented on making people closer

The 9th Moscow International Arts Festival "Sounds of the Dutar," named after the great composer Nury Khalmamedov, will soon open in Moscow. This festival has long since ceased to be simply a musical showcase; it has established itself as a vital platform for cultural dialogue, where ancient history meets contemporary art.

The dutar plays an ideological and symbolic role in this cultural celebration—it is the heart and philosophy of Turkmen music. For centuries, it has been the voice of the nation, conveying the whisper of the Garagum Desert winds and the echoes of the Great Silk Road.

The festival takes on particular significance in the context of the International Year of Peace and Trust. As National Leader of the Turkmen People Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted, "art prevails over conflict, and the dutar prevails over weapons."

In anticipation of this momentous event, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation Esen Aydogdyev addressed the festival participants and guests with a heartfelt welcome address, emphasizing the peacemaking power of music, the importance of preserving traditions, and wishing everyone new creative discoveries.

We are publishing Ambassador Esen Aydogdyev's full welcome address:

Dear friends, distinguished guests, participants of the IX Moscow International Arts Festival "Sounds of the Dutar" named after Nury Khalmamedov, and all admirers of beauty!

Allow me to warmly welcome you to this wonderful celebration of music and culture! The festival, proudly named after the great Turkmen composer Nury Khalmamedov, is more than just a series of concerts, but a true platform for cultural exchange, creative inspiration, and the strengthening of friendship between peoples.

For the ninth time, "Sounds of the Dutar" has brought together talented musicians, art lovers, and all who cherish the traditions and contemporary sounds of Turkmen music.

The cultural history of the Turkmen people includes 72 musical instruments, which have enjoyed widespread popularity at various times. Some of them have survived to this day, while others have gradually fallen out of use. One of these instruments, the dutar, remains extremely popular in Turkmenistan.

The dutar is an integral part of the centuries-old musical culture of the Turkmen people. No celebration—whether a wedding or a national holiday—is complete without performances by folk performers, the bakhshis. Throughout history, the bakhshis have enjoyed great honor and respect among the people. Their names are steeped in legend. The bakhshis themselves treated their dutars with the utmost care and reverence. They treasured their dutars, storing them in special soft fabric cases.

It is particularly important to note that in 2021, during the 16th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Paris, the craft of dutar making, dutar performance, and the art of the bakhshi were unanimously inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The dutar, with its delicate strings and soulful sound, has been the voice of the Turkmen people for centuries. The dutar's strings don't just convey notes—they tell a centuries-old story, echoing the whisper of the Garagum Desert winds, the caravan routes of the Great Silk Road, and the voices of distant ancestors. The festival's title, "Sounds of the Dutar," emphasizes that the dutar is more than just a national instrument, but a living embodiment of all Turkmen music, its heart and philosophy.

Dear participants!

True music lovers!

It is worth emphasizing the special symbolism of holding the IX Moscow International Arts Festival "Sounds of the Dutar" during the International Year of Peace and Trust, which marks the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality and the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. In the hands of a musician, the dutar becomes not just an instrument, but a conduit for peace, conveying the message that music can overcome any obstacle.

It is no wonder that National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, speaks of the peacemaking power of music in his book "Music of Peace, Music of Friendship and Brotherhood": "Today, in these politically challenging times, we stand out in the world as a nation whose minds have long held the notion that art triumphs over conflict, and the dutar triumphs over arms." That is why, when I say the word “neutrality,” the image of the skilled Shukur-bakhshi with a dutar in his hands comes to life before my eyes.”

I am confident that the International Scientific and Practical Conference, the competitive auditions for musicians, the "Universe of Words" recitation competition, the Gala Concert, and the "Palette of the World" art exhibition, held as part of the festival, will be not just a showcase of performing arts but also a bridge between cultures, a dialogue between generations, and a tribute to the great composer Nury Khalmamedov, whose legacy continues to inspire millions.

May these days be filled with magical melodies, sincere emotions, and new creative discoveries. I wish all participants inspiration, the audience unforgettable impressions, and the festival vibrant performances and a warm atmosphere of unity!

May the dutar resound, may traditions live on, and may art flourish!

Photo: Sounds of the Dutar Foundation