Shohret Nur
rawap, dutar | UK
Artist profile: https://makingtracksmusic.org/artists/shohret-nur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shohretttt/
Shohret’s story
Shohret comes from a rich tradition of Uyghur musical heritage, with his great-grandfather and grandmother, originally from Kashgar in Xinjiang, both playing the dutar, a traditional two-stringed instrument. Raised in this musical lineage, Shohret has emerged as an exceptional Uyghur musician. He now lives in London, where he is dedicated to sharing his culture with a global audience.
In addition to being a musician, Shohret is also an ethnomusicologist. He delves deeply into Uyghur music, especially the Twelve Muqam, a classical repertoire, by teaching, researching, and exploring its history. His work extends beyond performance, as he collaborates in international events like the Uzbek Culture and Food Festival and plays with groups such as the Silk Road Collective. Through these efforts, Shohret is helping preserve and promote Uyghur musical traditions worldwide.
Who are the Uyghur people?
Uyghur people are a Turkic ethnic group (people who speak Turkic languages), which mostly inhabits Xinjiang (officially called the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region), a region within the People's Republic of China (PRC) located in the northwest of the country at the crossroads of Central Asia and East Asia. Since the region has historically been a meeting point of various civilizations and cultures, via the famous Silk Road, like Indian, Persian, and Chinese, musical practices played a vital role in shaping Uyghur cultural identity. Instruments tell stories, express emotions, and connect with all kinds of life and celebratory occasions, such as weddings, funerals, and religious festivals.
Rawap’s origin and history bits - a Silk Road lute
Rawap, also known as rewap or lavap (热瓦普) can be traced back to the 14th century as a traditional plucked string instrument mainly used in Uyghur, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Afghanistan, and Tajik communities. Its most significant presence is placed in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, and it is commonly found across the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang. Historically it was a part of the cour music ensemble during the Quing Dynasty.
Anatomy of the instrument
The traditional version of the rawap is 130 centimeters long. Its resonant box is made of wood, often a mulberry tree, and the surface is covered in animal skins (sheep, donkey, horse, even python), depending on the region. Rawap’s curved neck with silk strings is connected at two bent angles. It comes in various forms dependent on the number of strings (from three to nine), and while silk strings are more common, traditionally, it was played with animal gut strings.
Its most distinctive features are the snakeskin face and the 'goat horns', which serve to decorate the pear-shaped body. Regional sub-types of these instruments include Kashgar rawap, Khotan rawap, and Dolan rawap. The melody is mostly played on the outermost strings, while the rest are sympathetic strings, resonating with the main melody.
Dutar’s origin and history
The dutar’s name applies to various types of long-necked fretted lutes in Central Asia and Iran. The name is derived from Persian meaning “two strings”. Like rawap, it is known by the ethnic group with which it’s associated (Uzbek, Tajik, Turkmen, or Uyghur). It is used in Turkmen music and singing. The dutar music practice is often divided into two main types: dutarchy (soloistic music), and bagshy (music accompanied by singing).
Anatomy of the instrument
The dutar is also a long-necked lute that has only two strings, which are played with a plectrum. Since it served as a shepherd's instrument in the 15th century, its strings were originally made from gut. Silk eventually replaced it, although nylon strings are also commonly used.
Interesting facts
Kashi, also known as Kashgar, is an ancient city located as one of the westernmost cities in China, so it serves as a gateway between China and its neighboring countries.
Dutar-making craftsmanship and traditional music-performing art combined with singing were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
If you liked the instruments you should check this out
Dutar making craftsmanship and traditional music performing art combined with singing
Silk Roads, an acclaimed book by Peter Frankopan
Sources
https://china-underground.com/2023/11/24/the-rawap-echoes-of-ancient-uyghur-music/
https://laodanwei.org/wp/music-books-and-art/the-rawap-a-silk-road-lute.php
Watch the film Growing Into Music (2012) by Making Tracks advisory board member Lucy Durán, which explores how children in diverse cultures from different parts of the world acquire musical skills and knowledge.
