All about dutar

Most of the musical instruments came to us from ancient times. Dutar is a national treasure in many countries. Its unusual sound is due to the special string material. The instrument is used to perform many pieces of music even today.

Dutar is a stringed plucked musical instrument. The design has a long neck, somewhat reminiscent of a lute. Initially, it is a Turkmen musical instrument, but it is also common among Tajiks, peoples of Afghanistan, Uighurs, Iranians, Uzbeks, and Karakalpaks. Dutar is one of the main devices for performing folk music.

The total length of the product is about 90–120 cm. The body is made of glued or chiselled wood. The instrument deck is always thin and equipped with resonator holes.

The dutar became known around the 15th century. For the first time, the instrument appeared among shepherds. At first, strings were made from animal intestines. Later, the material was changed to silk.

Much later, already in the 30s of the XX century, improved versions of the dutar appeared. They became part of the Turkmen, Uzbek and Tajik folk orchestras. The Iranian and Afghani varieties received 3 strings and were slightly different from the Central Asian variety. Herat dutar has up to 14 strings. A modern instrument can have both silk and nylon strings.

There is a dutar in a museum in Uzbekistan that belonged to Khoja Abdulaziz Rasulev. The man was an outstanding musician, composer and vocalist. Abdurehim Heyit is a contemporary musician who uses dutar in his work.

Dutar is the most popular instrument among the Turkmens. He is even present in the composition of symphony, pop orchestras. Musicians who specialize in this instrument are called dutarists. Their repertoire includes many folk melodies from different countries.

All masters are united by special skills in handling dutar. He accompanied the Turkmen in joyful and sad life situations. It was this musical instrument that was with them during their trekking through gorges and deserts. The melodies performed on it are considered to be a kind of suites and rhapsodies.

Al Farabi, the author of The Great Treatise on Music, preferred to listen to dutar more than a millennium ago. Over time, the art of playing this musical instrument has improved and has always touched the listeners for the soul. An important difference between the dutar and its analogs is that it has always been folk music that has always been played on it. Many musicians could easily make a musical instrument on their own and tune it correctly.

Muhammad Ishangulyev is a famous hereditary dutarchi master. He spent all his childhood in his father's workshop. He knew from a young age that you remember good music as well as your name. The melody simply sinks into the soul and it is already impossible to forget it. So the father passed on to Muhammad not only practical skills, but also a spiritual attitude towards dutar.

Ishangulyev, as his father dreamed, devoted his whole life to making this wonderful musical instrument with silk strings. For this, the guy thoroughly studied the characteristics and properties of the tree, which turns into dutar. Muhammad assured that the material is not impersonal, it directs the thoughts of the master, makes him reckon with himself.

The long history of dutar has made the process of making it a real science. Choosing the right wood is a key challenge. Craftsmen use a mulberry tree or a pear tree. The tree had to bear fruit, otherwise the sound would be bad, wrong. All summer, the selected material is dried in natural conditions, under the sun.

It is believed that the abundance of heat and light makes wood more pliable. An instrument made from such material has a cleaner sound that cannot be confused with anything else. At the same time, the masters make dutar only with the right mood and inspiration. If you make an instrument in a bad mood, then the sound will then be very dreary, plaintive.

Muhammad noticed during his long practice that he did not make two similar dutars. He used the same cutter, knife and staple, but the instruments always sounded differently. Muhammad compares dutar with people and their many-sided nature. Likewise, musicians choose an instrument for their soul.

Craftsmen even take polishing as responsibly as possible. The instrument is smooth and shiny. After making, the dutar has a bright yellow tint. As you play, grease from your hands and sweat soak into the wood, and it changes its appearance. Thanks to this, the dutar becomes unique, unlike its counterparts.

An American guest once came to Muhammad to listen to and purchase his creation. By that time, the man had already lived in Serdar for several years and taught English to local children. The American was amazed at the sound of the instrument, its dissimilarity from the rest. The guest saw the whole life philosophy of the Turkmens in the music. Now the product from the workshop of Muhammad is in the US Museum.

The master had 6 sons, and 2 of them took over his knowledge. Thanks to this, the tradition continued its life in the next generation. The training took place in the same way as that of Muhammad himself. The boys spent all their childhood with their father and watched his work.

More than one generation of talented musicians play the dutars of Muhammad. The work in the workshop does not end, there are always orders. Dutar is selected according to the preferences of the musician. He must try and listen to the instrument before using it in front of an audience.

Dutars of Muhammad are bought by guests from other countries. Instruments go on trips and delight many peoples. As a result, a special craft and knowledge are not lost. A musical instrument with silk strings always finds its listener.

For centuries, dutar has been considered the best gift among the Turkmens. The tool is given in those cases if they want to express a special disposition and sincerity. It is part of a great tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. The tool is hung on the wall or placed in a special place, carefully stored and looked after. Dutar is a symbol of celebration and well-being.

Dutar sounds muffled, tender and with a slight overtones. It is caused by the sliding of the musician's nails on the soundboard. The lower scale is chromatic, and the upper scale is diatonic. The interval is 1–2 octaves. Traditional Uyghur and Tajik instruments are equipped with silk strings.

Dutar is an ancient musical instrument. It is played by both folk performers and professionals. The advantage of the dutar is that it is suitable for ensemble and solo performance. This is a good accompaniment for vocals. Parts of pieces and makoms are often played on such a musical instrument.

Music can be different, as well as playing technique. It directly depends on the people in whose hands the instrument ended up. Some just play the strings, others strum them. There is no strict rule in using dutar.