The name of Munadjat Yulchieva, the brightest star in the contemporary classical Uzbek music scene, means "ascent to God", which reflects the very essence of Sufism. She also represents the Sufi concept of sil-si/a, the continuity of the spiritual chain,as the guardian of a musical tradition handed down to her from her spiritual and musical murshid (teacher and mentor) Shavkat Mirzaev. He in turn inherited this knowledge from his father, the renowned musician Muhammadjan Mirzaev, founder of Uzbek rubab, to whom the knowledge was passed on by the legendary master musicians Fahriddin Sadykov and Djurshan Sultanov. This centuries-old tradition has withstood political and cultural pressures. Today, Shavkat Mirzaev and Munadjat Yulchieva often perform the Sufi ghaza/s of Alisher Naval, Fisuli, Mashrab, Huvaydo and other great poets of the past, whose works had previously fallen into disfavour.

Listening to Uzbek music is a revelation. It unveils its acoustic treasures slowly and subtly to the attentive listener, building up gradually from a tranquil and melancholy monotone to culminate in the vibrant, expressive and strongly melodic awj. As the apex and focal point of Uzbek song, awj is the touchstone of any performer's virtuosity in the mastery of melody, ornamentation and rhythm. Uzbek classical songs are related to the Sufi tradition in which music is s way of approaching God, step by step, overcoming difficulties and barriers on the way, with a triumph of achievement, known as sama, as a reward, and thereby reflecting the individual's progression towards self?fulfilment in earthly life as well. Similarly, Uzbek classical songs progress through various stages known as daramad, mianparda, dunasr and awj, ascending in pitch at each stage, then descending quickly to conclude in the opening tessitura after culminating in the awj.

Aptly, the name of Munadjat Vulchieva, the brightest star in the contemporary classical Uzbek music scene, actually means "ascent to God", which reflects the very essence of Sufism. She also represents the Sufi concept of sil?si/a, the continuity of the spiritual chain,as the guardian of a musical tradition handed down to her from her spiritual and musical murshid (teacher and mentor) Shavkat Mirzaev. He in turn inherited this knowledge from his father, the renowned musician Muhammadjan Mirzaev, founder of Uzbek rubab, to whom the knowledge was passed on by the legendary master musicians Fahriddin Sadykov and Djurshan Sultanov. This centuries?old tradition has withstood political and cultural pressures. Today, Shavkat Mirzaev and Munadjat Yulchieva often perform the Sufi ghaza/s of Alisher Naval, Fisuli, Mashrab, Huvaydo and other great poets of the past, whose works had previously fallen into disfavour.

Although this subtle and complex music can only be fully appreciated through an awareness of its religious implications, Munadjat Yulchieva has helped it to gain a considerable following in Uzbekistan and beyond. She possesses a voice of extraordinary strength and beauty. Her astonishingly extensive range and rich tonality allow her to perform songs traditionally reserved for male voices, thus expanding the scope of her repertoire considerably. According to Muhammadjan Mirzaev: "Her voice is like a flying dove, turning over in the currents of warm spring air."

Munadjat Yulchieva was born into a peasant family in the cotton?growing Fergana Valley in 1960. Her love of singing was encouraged by her parents and, by the age of seventeen, she was an acclaimed artist. Shavkat Mirzaev recognised her remarkable talent and has been her teacher now for almost twenty years.

Razia Sultanova

REFERENCES

Palais des Beaux Arts - Bruxelles (BE), Womad Charltonpark (UK) , Festival International de Carthage - Tunis (TU) Festival Mawazine - RABAT (MA), Grand Théâtre de Calais (FR), Musiqat - Sidi Bou Said (TU), Festival International de Musiques Sacrées de Fribourg (CHE)