Instruments of Shashmaqam
The instruments of Shashmaqam mainly accompany voices at most concerts. They include two kinds of long-necked lutes (dutar and tanbur), dayra (frame drum) and the sato or ( bowed tanbur)
Dutar
picture from
http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/central_asia.htm
The dutar (dutor or dotar) is the main plucked instrument all over Central Asia (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). In Persian, the term dutar or dotar means two strings with “do or du” meaning “two”, and “Tar” meaning “string” (Raine-Reusch 2012).
Dutar is made from a single block of wood. The whole body of the dutar is varnished (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). The dutar’s neck is always decorated with inlayed bone in squares or other shapes (Webmaster-Atlas 2012).
Besides the traditional dutar, there is another kind of Uzbek dutar. The main difference between the traditional dutar and this dutar is the fretting, which is set in a Western scale (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). In addition, the Karakalpakstan dutar is a kind of dutar played in the western area of Uzbekistan. The Karakalpakstan dutar is much smaller than the traditional large-sized Uzbek dutar, and it is left unvarnished (Webmaster-Atlas 2012).
The dutar (dutor or dotar) is the main plucked instrument all over Central Asia (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). In Persian, the term dutar or dotar means two strings with “do or du” meaning “two”, and “Tar” meaning “string” (Raine-Reusch 2012).
Dutar is made from a single block of wood. The whole body of the dutar is varnished (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). The dutar’s neck is always decorated with inlayed bone in squares or other shapes (Webmaster-Atlas 2012).
Besides the traditional dutar, there is another kind of Uzbek dutar. The main difference between the traditional dutar and this dutar is the fretting, which is set in a Western scale (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). In addition, the Karakalpakstan dutar is a kind of dutar played in the western area of Uzbekistan. The Karakalpakstan dutar is much smaller than the traditional large-sized Uzbek dutar, and it is left unvarnished (Webmaster-Atlas 2012).
Tanbur
picture from http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/central_asia.htm
Tanbur is a kind of long-necked, fretted lute in Central Asia. It exists in different shapes. The body of the tanbur is made from a hollowed out piece of mulberry wood, and it is often smaller than the dutar (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). The front is made from mulberry (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). Similarly, the body of the tanbur is varnished and the neck is decorated with inlayed bone (Webmaster-Atlas 2012).
Tanbur is a kind of long-necked, fretted lute in Central Asia. It exists in different shapes. The body of the tanbur is made from a hollowed out piece of mulberry wood, and it is often smaller than the dutar (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). The front is made from mulberry (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). Similarly, the body of the tanbur is varnished and the neck is decorated with inlayed bone (Webmaster-Atlas 2012).
Doyra
picture from http://www.lonestarpercussion.com/Remo-Uzbek-Doyra-TA-3416-81.html
Doyra is a medium-sized frame drum with jingles. It is one of the oldest instruments of Uzbekistan. It is popular almost everywhere in Uzbekistan-- in cities and even in the countryside (Kul 2012). The round frame of the doyra is made of wood, and the covering is made of animal hide. The rings attached to its edges are made of metal. The doyra is played by either hitting it or shaking it. When playing, the musician must rotate his or her right and left hands. The doyra can be played solo or with other instruments. Sometimes metal nails attached to the musicians' fingers can produce different sounds by scratching the animal skin (Kul 2012).
Doyra is a medium-sized frame drum with jingles. It is one of the oldest instruments of Uzbekistan. It is popular almost everywhere in Uzbekistan-- in cities and even in the countryside (Kul 2012). The round frame of the doyra is made of wood, and the covering is made of animal hide. The rings attached to its edges are made of metal. The doyra is played by either hitting it or shaking it. When playing, the musician must rotate his or her right and left hands. The doyra can be played solo or with other instruments. Sometimes metal nails attached to the musicians' fingers can produce different sounds by scratching the animal skin (Kul 2012).
Sato
picture from
http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/central_asia.htm
The sato is another kind of long-necked lute from Central Asia. They are used in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Its exterior is similar to the tanbur. The body of the sato is also made from a hollowed cut piece of mulberry wood (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). The sato has different shapes from other long neck lutes. There are two sharp points at either side of the instrument’s body. The sound holes are typically a few drilled holes in a geometrical design (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). Most of the time, the sato is played vertically, resting on the knee, with a Western style bow. Sometimes it is plucked like a tanbur, with a wire finger plectrum (Webmaster-Atlas 2012).
The sato is another kind of long-necked lute from Central Asia. They are used in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Its exterior is similar to the tanbur. The body of the sato is also made from a hollowed cut piece of mulberry wood (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). The sato has different shapes from other long neck lutes. There are two sharp points at either side of the instrument’s body. The sound holes are typically a few drilled holes in a geometrical design (Webmaster-Atlas 2012). Most of the time, the sato is played vertically, resting on the knee, with a Western style bow. Sometimes it is plucked like a tanbur, with a wire finger plectrum (Webmaster-Atlas 2012).
Twelve Muqam
picture from
http://www.international.ucla.edu/china/events/showevent.asp?eventid=1827
The Twelve Muqam is a musical form in the western area of China---Xin Jiang. It is the “mother of Uyghur music” (Ministry of Culture 2012). The Twelve Muqam consists of large-scale pieces including sung poetry, stories, dance tune, and instrumental sections. The entire work can take over 24 hours to perform from the beginning to the end (Ministry of China 2012). There are a variety of instruments that are used to perform the Twelve Muaqm, including the dutar, tambur, dap, satar, ghijek, khushtar, chang and nay. The Twelve Muqam is often performed by a small group of singers, one of which is the leading singer, called Muqamchi (Ministry of China 2012).
We can compare the types of instruments in the Twelve Muqam with the instruments of Shashmaqam. The dutar and tambur are also used in Shashmaqam. The dap is similar to the doyra. But the dap comes in two sizes and it plays the leading role in the instrumental section of the Twelve Muqam. In addition, there are some other different instruments used in the Twelve Muqam, including the satar, ghijek and khushtar.
The Twelve Muqam is a musical form in the western area of China---Xin Jiang. It is the “mother of Uyghur music” (Ministry of Culture 2012). The Twelve Muqam consists of large-scale pieces including sung poetry, stories, dance tune, and instrumental sections. The entire work can take over 24 hours to perform from the beginning to the end (Ministry of China 2012). There are a variety of instruments that are used to perform the Twelve Muaqm, including the dutar, tambur, dap, satar, ghijek, khushtar, chang and nay. The Twelve Muqam is often performed by a small group of singers, one of which is the leading singer, called Muqamchi (Ministry of China 2012).
We can compare the types of instruments in the Twelve Muqam with the instruments of Shashmaqam. The dutar and tambur are also used in Shashmaqam. The dap is similar to the doyra. But the dap comes in two sizes and it plays the leading role in the instrumental section of the Twelve Muqam. In addition, there are some other different instruments used in the Twelve Muqam, including the satar, ghijek and khushtar.
Instruments of Twelve Muqam
Satar
picture from
http://www.cs.pitt.edu/~mehmud/uyghur/music_dance.html
The satar is a long-necked bowed lute. It has one melodic line and eight to twelve sympathetic metal strings. It usually accompanies the leading singer.
The satar is a long-necked bowed lute. It has one melodic line and eight to twelve sympathetic metal strings. It usually accompanies the leading singer.
Ghijek
picture from
http://www.uyghurensemble.co.uk/en-html/nf-research-article1.html
The ghijek is a fiddle with a soundboard made of wood or stretched skin. It has two bowed strings and six to eight sympathetic strings. Two bowed strings are tuned a fifth apart.
The ghijek is a fiddle with a soundboard made of wood or stretched skin. It has two bowed strings and six to eight sympathetic strings. Two bowed strings are tuned a fifth apart.
Khushtar
picture from
http://www.uyghurensemble.co.uk/en-html/nf-research-article1.html
The khushtar is a very important instrument in the professional troupes of the Twelve Muqam. The khushtar viol was developed in the 1960s (Harris and Muhpul 2012). It is tuned and bowed in a way similar to that of a professional ghijek, but the tone of the khushtar is much lower and softer.
The khushtar is a very important instrument in the professional troupes of the Twelve Muqam. The khushtar viol was developed in the 1960s (Harris and Muhpul 2012). It is tuned and bowed in a way similar to that of a professional ghijek, but the tone of the khushtar is much lower and softer.
Chang
picture from
http://www.uyghurensemble.co.uk/en-html/nf-research-article1.html
The chang is a large-sized hammer dulcimer. It is often performed by the professional troupes. Its strings are made of metal and they are strung in sets of three across several raised bridges.
The chang is a large-sized hammer dulcimer. It is often performed by the professional troupes. Its strings are made of metal and they are strung in sets of three across several raised bridges.
Nay
picture from
http://www.issaboulos.com/acms/www/about_inst.html
The Uyghur nay is a long horizontal flute. The body of the nay is made of walnut wood. Its tone sounds very soft.
The Uyghur nay is a long horizontal flute. The body of the nay is made of walnut wood. Its tone sounds very soft.
References
Webmaster-Atlas, Atlas of Plucked Instruments, "CentralAsia." (http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/central_asia.htm, accessed May 30, 2012).
Harris, Rachael, and Yasin Muhpul, London Uyghur Ensemble (http://www.uyghurensemble.co.uk/en-html/nf-research-article1.html, accessed May 30 2012).
Ministry of Culture, P.R. China. “Twelve Muqam.” Into China, Ethnically Conglomerate (http://www.chinaculture.org/focus/focus/minzuwang/2005-09/13/content_382102_3.htm, accessed May 30, 2012)
Kul, Jun. “Doyra.” (http://gvc03c20.virtualclassroom.org/tis/Music/dorya.htm, accessed June 8 2012)
Raine-Reusch, Randy. “Word instrument gallery.” (http://www.asza.com/idutar.shtml, accessed June 8 2012).
1