A Creative Week Commemorating Danatar Ovezov's 115th Birthday Brought Together Young Musicians Across the Country
A series of events dedicated to the 115th anniversary of the birth of one of the founders of the national school of composition concluded at the Danatar Ovezov Special Music School at the Maya Kulieva Turkmen National Conservatory. The anniversary week was more than just a tribute to his memory; it was a vibrant creative showcase, bringing together young talents from Ashgabat, the city of Arkadag, and the Akhal velayat.
The program was rich, ranging from in-depth theoretical presentations on the master's musical language to vocal and composition competitions. The jury, comprised of conservatory professors, noted the high standard of the works.
The scale of the events underscores the importance of preserving the cultural code. The name Danatar Ovezov, which the school bears, serves as more than just a historical reference for the students, but a tangible example of how dreams and perseverance can become a national treasure.
His story began on January 1, 1911, in the village of Myulk-Yusup. Having lost his father at an early age, the boy grew up in the home of his uncle, a renowned tuiduk player. It was there, in an atmosphere of folk melodies from the dutar and gidzhak, that the future composer was born.
At the age of 11, in Mary, he was first struck by the sound of a brass band. These "other sounds," so unlike the familiar tuyduk, ignited in him a passionate desire to become part of the larger musical world. His path was not straightforward: even while studying at the Tashkent Printing College, he never missed a single student orchestra rehearsal. His persistence was so noticeable that his classmates jokingly nicknamed him "Composer," unaware that this nickname would become his destiny.
Ovezov's introduction to opera was a turning point. After seeing Uzeyir Hajibeyov's productions, he was inspired by the idea: "Why not create a Turkmen opera?" Pursuing this dream, he went on to study first at the Leningrad Conservatory and then at the Moscow Conservatory.
Despite serious vision problems that plagued him for many years, Ovezov continued to create. Collaborating with leading composers of the era, he created masterpieces that still form the golden foundation of national art: "Shasenem and Garib," "Leyli and Majnun," and "Ayna."
Today, 115 years later, Ovezov's name is more than just the name of a music school. He has composed four operas, over 100 songs, and choral works that are performed in music schools and on the country's main stages.
The anniversary week confirmed that continuity in Turkmen art is not a frozen history, but a living process in which the energy of young musicians infuses classical traditions with new meaning.
Jennet Orazova
