Turkmen musicians to visit Japan under international project of TURKSOY
The orchestra of folk instruments of TURKSOY will acquaint art lovers from Japan with the musical folklore of the Turkic peoples.
Fifty talented musicians and dancers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, regions of Russia (Bashkortostan, Khakassia, Tuva, Yakutia), Gagauzia (Moldova) and Mongolia, from 13 to 20 November, will give six concerts in Tokyo, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Hamamatsu.
The organizers of the tour are the ministries of culture of the Turkic countries, the embassies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Turkey, Yunus Emre Institute and the Archers’ Foundation.
As part of the tour, the senior artists will hold a number of master classes on Turkic folk dances and folk instruments for students of the Tokyo University of arts.
The purpose of the tour to Japan is to popularize outstanding personalities, whose work has become a common cultural heritage of the entire Turkic world.
In accordance with the decision of the Permanent Council of Ministers of culture of TURKSOY, this year is dedicated to the famous Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev in honor of his centenary and to the great Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov.
In connection with these dates, a concert dedicated to Chingiz Aitmatov will be held in Tokyo on 16 November, and concert program includes works by Gara Garayev.
“I think that the Japanese people will strongly appreciate it. As a matter of fact, there are many similarities between the Japanese and Turkic peoples. Our social relationships and the importance we attach to our traditions are very much alike. Of course, besides unveiling our similarities, we will also get the opportunity to introduce our rich cultural heritage to the people of Japan. Together with the entire Turkic World we will be holding these concerts prior to the official opening ceremony of the Year of Turkey in Japan 2019 and we wish these concerts to leave indelible traces in the memories of their audiences”, Secretary General of TURKSOY Dyusen Kaseinov commented before the tour, noting that the campaign to Japan is also timed to the 25th anniversary of TURKSOY.
The orchestra of folk instruments was established on the initiative of the General Secretariat of TURKSOY in 2016. In the same year, the orchestra first appeared on the stage of the UN General Assembly hall in New York during Novruz concert.
The group is unique in its international composition. Each musician, representing national culture and country, plays on several instruments. The repertoire of the orchestra, along with folk and traditional music, includes works of folk and professional composers of the Turkic world.
