British Ambassador: in order to understand the Turkmen soul, you need to know their culture
Immediately after the authorized persons signed the document between the governments of Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland aimed at sustainable economic development of the two countries, an ORIENT correspondent asked Her Majesty’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Hugh Stanley Philpott to answer some questions about the event and beyond …
- This is a wonderful day. I am very glad that we have come to the signing of a memorandum between the governments of our countries. Both teams worked hard to thoroughly work out all the points, because this document creates a reliable basis for business cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom, opening up many new and far-reaching prospects.
I am extremely happy and proud that, currently in your country, I represent the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. And I am happy to congratulate the teams of both countries, which worked hard to advance further cooperation and relations between our countries.
- Allow me to congratulate you in this regard. Also, Mr. Ambassador, I would like to note that I was pleasantly surprised by the way you performed “Turkmen Sahrasy” – a song, popular among the Turkmen people. Moreover, you sang it in Turkmen language - it turned out very well! By the way, ORIENT website wrote about this, too.
- I'm glad you liked the way I performed this wonderful song. Recently, I recorded another one, but so far I have not posted it on the Internet. You will most likely immediately recognize this song as soon as I publish it on the World Wide Web. This is my little hobby.
- How did it happen that you decided to perform the song “Turkmen Sahrasy”?
- Once I met one gentleman who sang this song very beautifully, and it immediately sunk into my soul. I immediately began to repeat after him. And he, listening carefully, immediately said that I was doing well.
- And why are Turkmen songs attractive to you?
- First of all, by the fact that they are very melodic. And since I am in Turkmenistan, I should be familiar with the culture of the people of the country where I live and work. I do not speak Turkmen very well, but I carefully learned the words of this song.
When I was in Tajikistan, I also sang a song on International Women's Day in Tajik, so this becomes my tradition. This is a form of veneration, my way of showing respect for the people who host me.
Moreover, I really liked the music of the composer Nury Halmamedov, universally beloved in Turkmenistan, who wrote many wonderful pieces. For me, my modest performance of your songs is a tribute to deep respect for the Turkmen people and their musical culture.
- What you are telling is very interesting. I fully agree with you regarding the work of famous Turkmen authors. But to all this I add that I, as a Turkmen, also like the songs of “The Beatles” - the great group that the Kingdom of Her Majesty gave to the world...
- It's great! And I also like The Beatles. But when I arrived in Turkmenistan, I thought that I should, first of all, learn a piece from the Turkmen musical culture. Maybe later I will record some song from the repertoire of the Liverpool Four. After all, their songs carry a lot of pleasant things stored in my memory. The influence of The Beatles creativity on the minds and mood of young people around the world, and even in the Soviet Union, was enormous.
- Sure! Just recall the song “Back in USSR”, which was sung by all the youth of the former USSR.
- Yes, it's a good song, energetic. Despite the fact that these days the recording equipment is much more advanced, the songs of “The Beatles” still do not become obsolete - “Let it be”, “Yesterday”, “Hey, Jude” and many others. In addition, the Beatles have not only great music, but also very good lyrics, meaningful and at the same time lyrical. And I think that is why their hits are close and understandable to everyone - they are equally good for representatives of all cultures.
But in order to understand the soul, the mentality of a particular nation, you need to know its culture and art. I do it and I really like it
- Thank you, Mr. Ambassador, for your time and successful cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Kingdom of Her Majesty!
