Ensemble Tolghunoi
Komila Mattieva, Gozal Muminova, and Dilbar Bekturdieva are three young women from the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan and the founding members of Ensemble Tolghunoi. They have dedicated themselves to the revitalization of the art of khalfa and perform their music at a variety of religious, ceremonial, and musical gatherings. They are multi-talented musicians; Komila provides vocals and plays tar, Gozal plays dayra and dutar, and Dilbar provides vocals and plays garmon, dayra, and qayraq.
Ensemble Tolghunoi, which translates to “full moon”, performs a song from the epic tale of Harman-Dali with an ensemble of tar, dutar, dayra, and voice. The tale tells of the princess Harman-Dali who seeks a husband that can out-sing her and challenges the hero of the epic, Göroghli,to a singing contest that culminates in his defeat. The excerpt performed by Ensemble Tolghunoi tells of Harman-Dali asking her grandmother to deliver a letter to Göroghli inviting him to meet with her.
Harman-Dali
To the young Göroghli from Chandibil
Go, grandmother, and bring the news.
He’s from the clan of the begs [noble landowners],
Go, grandmother, bring the news.
Let my wish come true,
Because I believe in God.
Give him 100 more gold coins,
Go, grandmother, bring the news.
To the young Göroghli from Chandibil
Go, grandmother, and bring the news.
He’s from the clan of the begs [noble landowners],
Go, grandmother, bring the news.
Let my wish come true,
Because I believe in God.
Give him 100 more gold coins,
Go, grandmother, bring the news.
Click on these links to listen to song excerpts:
Harman-Dali
Galmadi, Galmadi
Audio from Smithsonian Folkways
Harman-Dali
Galmadi, Galmadi
Audio from Smithsonian Folkways