Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- "Dugokh: Two Moments" is part of the first edition of Tashkent Music Encounters, which presents a collection of musical works praising one of the most exquisite spiritual treasures of Uzbekistan - Shashmakom (six maqoms). 

Outstanding performers in this genre - Abror Zufarov and Nodira Pirmatova perform a selection of muskulot (instrumental melodies) and nasr (vocal melodies) of one of the six maqoms, called dugokh. Unique examples of musical dialogue between the feminine and masculine are presented on the disc "Dugoch: Two Moments". 

This dialogue opens the mystical dimension of Uzbek classical music and is built, on the one hand, on the authentic sound of such traditional long-necked instruments as sato and tanbur in the exciting performance of Abror Zufarov, and on the other, on a sensual female interpretation with the rich and deep voice of Nodira Pirmatova.

This collection presents on one side of the disc instrumental music by Abror Zufarov: Sarakhbari Dugokh, Safty Chorgoh and Husainiy Dugokh, and on the other - vocal melodies performed by Nodira Pirmatova: Chorgokh, Sarakhmari Oromijon and Dugokh: Taronai IV. This sound is the result of many years of work by Abror Zufarov on the reconstruction of an almost lost performance. The presented version will sound in its original, almost intact form for the first time in 70 years. 

Each element of the project is a part of a capacious and important mission of preserving the material and non-material traditions of our people. The choice of the Samanid Mausoleum as one of the cover elements speaks of the origin and foundations of the maqom school in Bukhara. It is the Bukhara school of maqom that is fundamental and combines elements of the Fergana and Khorezm schools.

Tashkent Encounters is designed to gather specialists in the field of art, cinema, music, theater and architecture in Tashkent for the cultural and creative exchange with the urban community. The mission is not only to popularize contemporary art in Uzbekistan, but also to develop relations between local and international artists, providing an interdisciplinary dialogue. The project will also support traditional artists representing the local cultural heritage.

Abror Zufarov is a virtuoso instrumentalist who mastered the stringed instruments tanbur, sato and dutar in the Tashkent-Fergana and Samarkandskobukhar performing schools. Over the past 20 years, Abror Zufarov has strived to reconstruct the authentic sound of tanbur, which was lost in the 1930s, reviving the instrument’s metric structure. "Dugokh: Two Moments" marks a unique moment in the history of traditional music of Uzbekistan, when the reconstructed authentic sound of tanbur will be presented to a wide international audience for the first time in this music collection.

The voice of Nodira Pirmatova has an enchanting power. Her unique understanding of Uzbek and Tajik poetry makes her an ideal performer of both Tashkent-Fargan and Samarkand-Bukhara maqoms. Nodira Pirmatova is also unique in that she can accompany herself by playing dutar and tanbura, which is rare among singers in sedentary cultures. Pirmatova continues her research in the field of music theory and is a senior lecturer at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan.

The project was curated by Saodat Ismailova, an Uzbek director and video artist. In 2013, Saodat presented her first video installation, Zuhra, at the Venice Biennale, and a year later her first feature film, 40 Days of Silence. Later, the film was presented at 35 international film festivals.

Organizer is the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts on a regular basis organizes and supports events in the field of contemporary and traditional art, literature, theater, music and choreography. The Foundation expands international cultural ties, develops patronage in the country, and also promotes the cultural potential of Uzbekistan in the world arena.