The Performance Mastery of Qahhor Bakhshi In the Uzbek Epic Tradition

Аннотация

The article reveals the unique style of the Uzbek folk bakhshi Kahhor bakhshi Rakhimov in performing epics, the individual features of his modern repertoire, the manner of performance that distinguishes him from other bakhshi, the poetic aspects of his work as a continuer of the Sherabad school of epic poetry. Keywords: Epic, folk, bakhshi, poetry, music, performance, dombra. lived as qalandar-dervishes, roaming from place to Introduction: The epic (doston) and the art of its place singing religious and didactic epics in honor of performance constitute the principal and most highly Muslim saints. specialized branch of Uzbek oral literature. The emergence and gradual development of this art are Uzbek epic artistry stands among the most inseparably linked to the bakhshis’ practice and extraordinary cultural phenomena: the activities of activity. The epic is a lyric-epic poem-an artistic work of bakhshis, the institutions of epic-singing schools, and that genre-widely found in both Uzbek oral tradition the master–apprentice lineage have together ensured and classical literature. In the epic, a particular event is the survival and transmission of countless epic. narrated through lyric-epic imagery. It embraces life Scholars have shown that this art embodies the rich, and reality on a grand scale, typically revolves around ancient traditions of our people’s artistic thinking. one or two central heroes, and features a large cast of Drawing on these time-honored customs, the art of characters. [1] bakhshichilik is delivered solo-through an intimate, inner vocal style accompanied by the dombra-and About two or three thousand years ago, the performers unfolds live in spontaneous, improvisational of the epic were given the title “bakhshi.” The word performance. “bakhshi” comes from the Mongolian and Buryat bakhsha (baghsha – “learned one,” “teacher”), appears Born into the hereditary lineage of bakhshis, Qahhor among Turkmens as baghshi, among Karakalpaks as bakhshi Rahimov-son of the celebrated Qodir bakhshi baqsi, and in similar forms elsewhere. [2.2] Rahimov-belongs to the distinguished circle of performers who have, from 1990 to 2025, ensured the Bakhshichilik is a priceless art form that unites mastery living transmission and development of the epic- of poetry, music, and performance. A bakhshi is the folk singing traditions of Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya. epic singer and storyteller who preserves terma (oral Qahhor bakhshi was born on 2 February 1957 in the song–verse), ballads and epics-singing them from village of Kho‘jamahmud, Dehqonobod district, memory and transmitting them from generation to Kashkadarya region, into the beloved household of generation. With their sweet, silvery voice and the Qodir bakhshi Rahimov. melodies flowing from their dombra, they involuntarily stir the human heart and set it moving. The size of a After completing secondary school in his village, he bakhshi’s repertoire varies: those blessed with keen studied at the Faculty of Uzbek Philology at Karshi State hearing, sharp intellect, natural talent, and an University, where he received theoretical instruction in exceptional memory can recall dozens of epics by folklore-especially in the art of epic performance-from heart. According to experts, another group of bakhshis the eminent folklorist Abdumo‘min Qahhorov. [3.5-6] American Journal Of Philological Sciences 287 https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN – 2771-2273) Descended from seven generations of bakhshis, Union. Having achieved the rank of master artist, he Qahhor Bakhshi learned the secrets of this art from his possesses a unique gift and flair for performing both father, Qodir bakhshi. He describes how his passion for traditional and personal termas, and for composing bakhshichilik first awakened: “In our family, bakhshi new ones. gatherings were held at least two or three times a What sets Qahhor bakhshi apart from other bakhshis is week. Because my father was a master bakhshi, that, before beginning any doston or terma, he always performers would travel from Surkhandarya, invokes the name of Allah and earnestly seeks His help. Kashkadarya, and even Turkmenistan to our home. For example: They’d listen to my father’s singing until dawn, then -“O friends, let me tell you but one tale, take up the epic themselves. Villagers would fill our house as if it were an inn. My father’s magical voice and May Allah in His mercy grant us grace.” the haunting melodies of his dombra absolutely Secondly, the bakhshi sends blessings upon our mesmerized me. Watching his students and visiting Prophet Muhammad (s.a.v, peace be upon him). bakhshis perform was spellbinding. Later, when I was Thirdly, he invokes the name of his mentor-his father alone at home, I’d pick up the dombra and try to Qodir bakhshi-understanding that before any recreate their performances-strumming the performance he must, in spirit, seek his father’s instrument and mim