"THEORY OF TURKMEN MUSIC. PART I” PUBLISHED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Turkmen music is an integral part of the cultural heritage of our ancient people. It holds a significant place in our spiritual life with its rich history, philosophy, and unique melodies. The magnificent nature of vast deserts, majestic mountains, and dynamic rivers inspires all creative individuals, including composers, uplifting their spirits. Thus, an eternal treasure trove of sweet and melodious music has been created in the history of Turkmen musical art. Perhaps this is why the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero Arkadag, emphasizes: “The development of science and education, culture, and national art is the cornerstone of our policy and will continue to receive special attention in the future.”

Recently, the textbook “Theory of Turkmen Music. Part I” (authors: Yu. Osipova, R. Muhammedov – Ashgabat: Turkmen State Publishing Service) was published for students of higher education institutions, including the Turkmen National Conservatory named after Maya Kuliyeva.

The textbook consists of two sections. The first section provides information about the science of ethnomusicology, as well as the scientific views of prominent Eastern scholars such as Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, Ash-Shirazi, Muhammad Amuli, and Abdurrahman Jami.

The second section covers the development of musical science in Turkmenistan during the 20th–21st centuries, Turkmen folklore, and researchers of professional folk music art. This section systematically examines the formation and development of modern musical folkloristics in the country and highlights three main periods:

The first period: the 1920s–1960s of the 20th century; The second period: the 1970s–1980s of the 20th century, characterized by the development of musical folkloristics and an intensification of critical analysis; The third period: the years of Turkmenistan’s Independence, associated with the active study of Turkmen folk music and the discovery of its unique features.

This textbook is intended for students specializing in the history and theory of Turkmen music at higher education institutions. It is also considered a valuable scientific resource for students of music schools, music researchers, readers, and teachers.

Department of Textbook Preparation and Publishing

Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan