Oriented on making people closer

In Moscow, under the auspices of the Sounds of Dutar Foundation and with the support of the Moscow Government, the second edition of the sheet music collection "Balkhan Sketches"—a piano cycle of fantasy pieces that has become a notable phenomenon in contemporary musical culture—has been published. The publication is timed to the tenth anniversary of the Nury Khalmamedov Moscow International Arts Festival. This event is more than just the publication of sheet music; it is a bridge connecting the musical traditions, culture, and spirit of two friendly countries.

The author of the cycle is the renowned composer and pianist Mamed Guseinov. Born in Turkmenistan, he imbued his music with a deep, almost tangible love for his native land. "Balkhan Sketches" were conceived and written in the early 2000s in Nebitdag (now Balkanabat), at the southern foot of the majestic Greater Balkhan mountain range.

This picturesque oasis, rising amid the scorching Karakum Desert, with its whimsical juniper trees, fragrant wormwood, and thickets of wild grapes, became the composer's primary inspiration. The suite's six fantasy pieces are six "mood engravings," each painting its own unique image: from the swift "Attack" and the mysterious "Eastern Tale" to the passionate "Impulse" and the final "Inspiration," inspired by the immortal destan "Shasenem and Garip." Guseinov’s music is a harmonious dialogue: in it, Western European romantic passion meets refined Eastern contemplation.

The new edition is a true art object, where music enters into a direct dialogue with painting. The visual extension of the sound images of the Greater Balkhan are the vibrant canvases of the outstanding 20th-century Soviet and Turkmen artist Gennady Babikov. His mountain landscapes, combining the principles of the Russian academic school with the unique context of Central Asia, imbue the collection with a special aesthetic depth.

The publication's value is enhanced by expert commentary: the collection includes a welcoming address by Zurab Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, as well as a musicological and art historical analysis of the work's style and imagery.

The collection "Balkhan Sketches" also carries an important personal message. It is dedicated to Lyudmila Buslavskaya, a virtuoso pianist, teacher, and coordinator of Russia-Turkmenistan cultural programs in the mid-1990s. She mentored a constellation of talented musicians, including Mamed Guseinov. This publication is a tribute of respect and gratitude to the Teacher.

The release of "Balkhan Sketches" in Moscow is clear evidence that the cultural dialogue between Turkmenistan and Russia continues to develop, giving rise to new, surprisingly profound forms of collaboration. This collection, possessing high artistic and pedagogical value, has already become part of the concert repertoires of students at art colleges and leading pianists. The triumphant performance of this cycle by international competition laureate Elisey Babanov confirms that the music of the Greater Balkhan continues to captivate the hearts of listeners worldwide.

Photo: Sounds of Dutar Foundation