Introduction
by Jan van Belle
Most musicians in the villages of Badakhshan are trained and experienced but not professional players, at least according to Western standards, insofar as their main occupation is to carry out the daily duties belonging to their sedentary agricultural village life. There are only a few professional musicians who can make an, although modest, living out of their performances, like the setar player Mamadato Tavalāyev from Khorog. They generally can’t read notes and learn the music and the songs by ear from their family or from other musicians in their village. In many cases they are unable to give information about tunings, melodic modes or other musicological details, but fortunately some performers, especially Jonboz Dushanbiyev, Mojon and Mamadato Tavalāyev are really specialists and were very helpful in giving many details, orally and from their notebooks, about the place of music in their Ismaili context, melodic modes, performance practice, context of performances and the origin of their instruments. However, the majority of the performers are amateurs who regard their performances as a service to the community, and as a consequence they generally refused money for recordings in the beginning, but due to the poverty in the country and a lot of insistence of the researchers they finally would accept payment. Each village has its own performers, who are in many cases excellent and experienced singers and players with an exceptional memory for text and melody, capable of playing and singing for hours. Even in the most remote villages performers appeared to know their poets and poetry and produced in many cases notebooks with written texts of classical Persian poets. The human voice is predominant and still plays an important role in preserving and disseminating the oral culture of Badakhshan, and the role of the instruments is mainly to accompany the singer. Pure instrumental music forms only a small part of the performance practice in the villages.
The list of performers mentioned below consists respectively of the following data: name / the village or town where the recordings were made / year of birth / the instruments played during the recordings.
A
Abdulmasaynxon, Ziyo’iwalad / Yamgi bolo / 1934 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Alibaxshov, Firdaws / Tusiyon / 1974 / daf
Alibaxshov, Mirsa‘id / Tusiyon / 1973 / daf
Asan, Mihrob / Ishkoshim / 1962 / accordion
Azizbek, Sulaymon / Shanbedeh / 1967 / rubâb-i afghânî, daf
Azizulloev, Zafar / Porshnev / 1965 / daf, vocals, guitar
Azizullozoda, Sa‘dullo / Porshnev / 1926 / rubâb, vocals (madâh), sêtâr
B
Bahromov, Madazim / Tusiyon / 1964 / daf, accordion, vocals
Beronshoyev, Rahmatsa‘id. / Ghorjwin / 1956 rubâb, accordion, vocals
Beronshoyeva, Abrigul / Ghorjwin / 1970/ daf, vocals
Bodurxonova, Manzura / Ishkoshim / 1968 / vocals
Borkoyeva, M. / Karakum / ? / labchang (ooz qomuz, Jew’s harp)
Boroniyeva, Gulandom / Xorugh / ? / vocals, daf
Bozorov, Gulzorxon / Putup / 1955 / vocals, accordion
C
Chanorov, Nobovar / Derushon / 1970 / daf, back vocals
D
Dawlatmamadov, Dawlatmamad / Roshorw / 1956 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Dawlatmamadov, Sarkorî / Sponj / 1947 / daf, accordion, vocals
Dawlatxon, Mawlonazar / Rubot / 1971 / daf
Dushanbiyev, Jonboz / Sponj / 1948 / rubâb, ghîzhak, vocals (madâh)
G
Ghayosov, Abdulamid / Tusiyon / 1960 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Ghayosov, Aziz / Tusiyon / 1964 / tanbûr, back vocals
Ghulomaliyevich, Safar / Razuj / 1949 / vocals (madâh), rubâb
Gulmamadov, Haydarsho / Shoxerizm / 1963 / accordion, vocals
Gulmamadov, Mirikalon / Shoxerizm / 1929 / vocals (madâh), rubâb
Gulmamadov, Nazarsho / Shoxerizm / 1962 / accordion, vocals
H
Hasanov, Abdullahadxon / Yamgi bolo / 1916 / daf, back vocals (old madâhxân)
Hazratbekov, Dawlatmahmad / Barushon / 1940 / ghizhak
I
Imomnazarov, Aslsho / Sponj / 1968 / daf
Imomnazarov, Dawlatmir / Sponj / 1951 / ghîzhak, vocals
Iskandarova, Zaragul / Xorugh / 1938 / vocals
J
Jorubov, Muzofirsho / Nimoz / ? / daf, back vocals
Jum‘axon, Dodixudo / Ishkoshim / 1948 / rubâb, ghîzhak, vocals (madâh)
K
Komilov, Ulfatsho / Derushon / 1930 / daf, vocals
L
Lashkariyev, Komilsho / Roshorw / 1964 / daf
M
M., Esenbay / Alichur / 1964 / qomuz, vocals
Ma‘sumov, Qosimsho / Wanqal‘a / 1934 / rubâb, back vocals
Madaliyev, Manaim / Shanbedeh / 1941 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Malabekov, Shakarbek / Roshorw / 1934 / nay
Masaynov, Masayn / Andarob / 1940 / vocals, sêtâr, nayrûd
Mastibeg, Bayrambek / Ishkoshim / 1972 / daf, accordion, vocals
Mastonov, Palla / Derzud / 1928 / nay
Mirzoqand, Sultonhusayn / Wichkut / 1936 / bulandzughom, vocals (madâh)
Mirzoyev, Mirzorahmat / Rubot / 1972 / back vocals
Mirzoyev, Mirzoyizad / Rubot / 1946 / rubâb, daf, vocals (madâh)
Mirzoyev, Sayyidnazar / Rubot / 1973 / back vocals, daf
Mirzoyev, Sodotsho / Rubot / 1950 / daf, back vocals
Muborakqadam / Yamg / 1934 / bulandzughâm, vocals (madâh)
Muhammadniyozov, Shohniyoz / Wanqal‘a / 1960 / daf
Mulkiamonov, Dawlatmir / Putup / 1962 / vocals, ghîzhak
N
Nazardodova, Mohjon / Barushon / 1918 / daf
Nazarshoyev, Amirsho / Derushon / 1969 / daf, vocals
Ni‘matulloyev, Sanawbar / Darzhomch / 1967 / daf, back vocals
Niyozmamadov, Dawlatmamad / Nishusp / 1946 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Niyozmamadov, Ozodbek / Putup / 1952 / vocals, daf
O
Odinamamadov, Akbarsho / Roshtqal‘a / 1949 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Odinamamadov, Nusratsho / Roshtqal‘a / 1976 / tanbûr, back vocals
Ofiyatxon, Dawlatxon / Ishkoshim / 1959 / daf, vocals
Osmonov, Boqir / Alichur / 1966 / qomuz, vocals
Oshurmamadov, Sodotqadam / Darzhomch / ? / daf
P
Piruzsho, Nikbaxtsho / Wichkut / 1947 / rubâbcha, vocals (madâh)
Pulodî, Shawqmamad / Razuj / 1958 / sêtâr, back vocals
Q
Qurbonov, Shoh Muhammad Beg / Yamg / 1960 / rubâb, daf, vocals (madâh)
R
Rahmatbekov, Chorshanbe / Xorugh / 1968 / tanbûr
Rahmatbekov, Mawlonazar / Xorugh / 1961 / sitâr, rubâb
Rahmatbekov, Qal‘ador / Xorugh / 1933 / rubâb, sitâr, vocals
Rahmatbekov, Xudonazar / Xorugh / 1966 / daf, back vocals
Rahmatshoev, Faromurz / Nimoz / ? / daf, back vocals
Rahmatshoev, Isosho / Nimoz / ? / daf, back vocals
Rahmatshoh, Bahadur / Ishkoshim / 1962 / vocals
Ramazon, Shamsidin / Razuj / ? / daf
Ruzadorov, Muhammad Dilbeg / Darzhomch / 1931 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Ruzadorov, Xayrullo / Derushon / 1933 / daf, vocals
S
Sabzikov, La‘lbeg / Roshorw / 1968 / tanbûr, vocals (madâh)
Safarmahmadov, Ozodmuhammad / Derushon / 1923 / rubâb, vocals
Safarov, Ghulomsho / Sponj / 1947 / târ, ghîzhak
Salomatshoyev, Saradsho / Yapshorw / 1937 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Salomatzoda, Dawlatsho / Razuj / 1953 / tanbûr, back vocals
Sarboz, Safar / Ishkoshim / 1967 / daf
Sarfaroz, Ruzaxon / Shanbedeh / 1929 / vocals, nay, rubâb
Sarfarozov, B. / Shanbedeh / 1963 / rubâb-i afghânî, daf
Sayfullobekova, Sharifa / Ishkoshim / 1964 / vocals
Sayyidnazarzoda, Sultonnazar / Wanqal‘a / 1944 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Shirinbekov, Gulxon / Kuhi la‘l / 1971 / sêtâr, daf
Shirinbekov, Jum‘axon / Kuhi la‘l / 1932 / ghîzhak, nay
Shirinbekov, Mahabbatxon / Kuhi la‘l / 1934 / rubâb, sêtâr, vocals (madâh)
Shirinbekov, Shodixon / Kuhi la‘l / 1976 / tablak, daf
Shohmamadov, Fayzmahmad / Bedhiz / 1927 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Shohnazarov, Sayyidsho / Yuben / 1969 / accordion, vocals
Shukrixudoyev, Shukrixudo / Sponj / 1971 / daf
Sohibnazarova, Ozodamo / Sponj / ? / vocals
T
Tavaloyev, Mamadato / Xorugh / 1934 / sêtâr
Tavaloyeva, Nargis / Xorugh / 1967 / daf
Tolibshoyev, Nosirsho / Xorugh / ? / târ, vocals
Toldoshova, Aynura / Alichur / ? / qomuz, vocals
X
Xudoynazarov, Abdalhakim / Nimoz / 1966 / rubâb, vocals (madâh)
Xudoynazarov, Dawlat / Xorugh / 1963 / nay
Xudoynazarov, Jum‘a / Nimoz / ? / daf, back vocals
Xudoynazarov, Mawlonazar / Nimoz / ? / daf, back vocals
Xudoyorbekov, Shogunbek / Putup / 1945 / vocals (madâh), rubâb
Xudoyorbekov, Suhrob / Shoxerizm / 1975 / daf
Xujamyorov, Muhammadyor / Yapshorw / 1934 / rubâb, vocals (madâh), sêtâr
Xushnazarov, Parpisho / Yuben / 1967 / daf