The Maya Kulieva Turkmen National Conservatory’s Small Hall has hosted a concert by the Accordion Orchestra of D. Ovezov Turkmen State Music College conducted by teacher Astanogly Bayramov.

Astanogly, a graduate of the Turkmen National Music Conservatory’s Special Music Boarding School, continued his education at the Kazan State Conservatory. After graduating in 2018, he began teaching at Danatar Ovezov Music College. The young teacher also took the helm of the Accordion Orchestra made up of 30-plus students in different years of study.

The concert opened with a potpourri of pieces from the repertoire of the legendary dutar player Shukur Bagshi, arranged by Astanogly Bayramov. The deeply expressive music with contrasting tonal transitions triggered associations with the scenic beauty of Turkmen nature, mysteries of history, rich traditions, a fast-moving Akhalteke horse, and lines of elevated poetry.

The concert program featured works from various genres: ‘Tango’ by Pavel Tursunov, Figaro’s cavatina from Gioacchino Rossini’s opera ‘The Barber of Seville’, ‘Moldavian Sketches’ by Boris Veksler, ‘The Polovtsian Dances’ from Alexander Borodin’s opera ‘Prince Igor’, among others.

The Concerto for Tar and Orchestra (Part 2) by Azerbaijani composer Gaji Hanmamedov made a strong impression on the audience. The solo part was performed by second-year student Aymurad Aymuradov (the Department of Folk Instruments). The distinctive tar sounds and masterly performance by Aymurad evoked powerful emotional responses in the listeners.

- Aymurad, why did you choose such an unusual instrument? we asked the musician after the concert.

-The tar is a plucked stringed instrument. It is becoming increasingly popular among the national instruments because of its beautiful sound. I have been playing the instrument for many years and I have grown to love it with all my heart. Of course, I should give due credit for my achievements to my teacher. At that very moment Aymurad bowed respectfully and gave a splendid bouquet of flowers to Altyn Rustamova.

- Aymurad is a top-performing student, his mentor joined the conversation. Even when taking the entrance exam, he showed himself as a talented performer. We have plans to organize his solo recital with the National Instruments Orchestra in the near future.

- Good luck and every success to you, Aymurad, we wished.

Tamara GLAZUNOVA

Photo: Yuri SHKURIN