To mark the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a scientific and practical conference entitled «National musical instruments of the peoples of the world» was held in Ashgabat in the Small Hall of the Turkmen national conservatory named after Maya Kuliyeva.

Two exhibitions were organised especially for this conference: a book exhibition, displayed in the foyer of the conservatory, and an exhibition of national musical instruments, opened in the museum. The prelude to the conference was a performance by the folk instrument ensemble of the Conservatory (conductor - Honoured Artist of Turkmenistan Omar Igamov). The ensemble performed the folk melody «Gonurbash mukamy» and «Türkmen sährasy» by Nury Halmammedov.

The conference was opened by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, Hero of Turkmenistan Chynar Rustemova. In her speech, she told the conference participants about the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the influence of folk instruments on the development of culture in different countries.

Fifth-year musicology student Arzuv Ashyrova spoke from the podium about the bagpipes, a Scottish musical instrument. Her performance was accompanied by a video showing her playing this instrument. Following Arzuv, students from the Faculty of Musicology presented reports on the duduk, a folk musical instrument of the Armenian people; the pan flute, an instrument from Peru; the dombra, an instrument of the Kazakh people; the tanbur, an instrument of the Uzbeks; and the mandolin, a folk instrument of the Italians.

Information about the Turkmen bowed instrument, the turan, was presented by Ayjahan Abalakova. Her report was illustrated by the work of A. Julgayev «Ýaşlara salam» («Greeting to the Youth») performed by Noker Genjiyev. Students from the Faculty of Musicology also prepared interesting reports on string and percussion instruments from India, China, Korea, Arab and African countries.

The reports on the kanun and the zither were accompanied by a performance by Nasiba Bahadurova (kanun) and Sona Nuryyeva (piano) of the work «Round dance of the elves» by the Italian composer Antonio Bazzini. The report on the cheng of Gaji Hanmammedov was supplemented by a performance by Mahriban Hayypova (cheng) and Sona Nuryyeva (piano) of Concert №2 of Gaji Hanmammedov.

Thanks to the folk instrument performers, the scientific and practical conference turned out to be not only informative but also very interesting. The event was moderated by Jamila Gurbanova, a candidate of art history and specialist at the Department of intangible cultural heritage of the Ministry of culture of Turkmenistan.

All speakers received valuable gifts from the Central Council of the Youth organisation of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly.