Salamat Sadikova
Encyclopedia
Salamat Sadikova is a folk singer
and the head of the coordinating council for the El-Ene (Mother Nation) Party in Kyrgyzstan. Widely regarded as a national treasure, she is often referred to by the sobriquet
"The Voice of Kyrgyzstan," which is also the name of one of her albums.
She has received numerous awards, among them the title People's Artist
of Kyrgyztan and "Honored Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan", Winner of the State prize of Toktogul
, Owner of the title of World's Master of Music, Korea.
Her first CD along with “Kambarkan” ensemble was released in Japan during their tours all around Japan. She produced and released a CD of her music in the United States with support from Mark A. Humphrey, who is an ethnomusicologist
at UCLA.
, including the Sharq Taronalari (Eastern Melodies) international music festival
in Samarkand
, Uzbekistan. She has also performed at various countries outside of Central Asia, including Belgium
, China
, France
, Germany
, Italy
, Japan
, Korea
, Netherlands
, Russia
, Spain
, Turkey
and the United States
.
In 2003, she performed at the Days of Kyrgyz Culture in Moscow. In 2006, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's annual conference, she performed in front of several heads of state, such as those of China and Russia. She was among the 36 international artists who performed at the first World Masters Festival of Arts and Culture—billed as "the cultural Olympics of the traditional artists of the world"—in Seoul
in October 2007. In 2008, she was an Official Showcase Artist at WOMEX
—a world music exposition held that year in Seville, Spain— along with being a part of the musical program for the "Rose of the World 2008" in Russia.
. Some of her songs are traditional, or were popularized decades ago by Myskal Omurkanova (1915–1976), the first great Kyrgyz female artist to record extensively. Her other songs were often written specially for her by leading Kyrgyz and Kazakh composers, such as Kyrgyzstan's unofficial national anthem, Kyrgyz Jeri (Kyrgyz Land), though she performs some original compositions as well. In content and emotion, Sadikova's songs might be compared to the ghazal
song tradition or to Portugese fado
.
As translated from a quote from Plural World, Sadikova says:
, wrote the following regarding Sadikova:
Folk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
and the head of the coordinating council for the El-Ene (Mother Nation) Party in Kyrgyzstan. Widely regarded as a national treasure, she is often referred to by the sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
"The Voice of Kyrgyzstan," which is also the name of one of her albums.
Career
Sadikova initially faced much prejudice as a woman performing in the conservative southern area of the former Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic. Nonetheless, she eventually became the leader of the Kyrgyz national folk music and dance ensemble “Kambarkan”.She has received numerous awards, among them the title People's Artist
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
of Kyrgyztan and "Honored Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan", Winner of the State prize of Toktogul
Toktogul
Toktogul is an urban-type settlement in the Jalal-Abad Province of Kyrgyzstan. There are an estimated 15,943 inhabitants. It is named after its most famous son - the musician Toktogul Satilganov. It is located on the northern shore of the Toktogul reservoir. To the south, highway M41 curves around...
, Owner of the title of World's Master of Music, Korea.
Her first CD along with “Kambarkan” ensemble was released in Japan during their tours all around Japan. She produced and released a CD of her music in the United States with support from Mark A. Humphrey, who is an ethnomusicologist
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
at UCLA.
Performances
Sadikova has performed—solo and with “Kambarkan”—throughout Central AsiaCentral Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, including the Sharq Taronalari (Eastern Melodies) international music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
in Samarkand
Samarkand
Although a Persian-speaking region, it was not united politically with Iran most of the times between the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire and the Arab conquest . In the 6th century it was within the domain of the Turkic kingdom of the Göktürks.At the start of the 8th century Samarkand came...
, Uzbekistan. She has also performed at various countries outside of Central Asia, including Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 2003, she performed at the Days of Kyrgyz Culture in Moscow. In 2006, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's annual conference, she performed in front of several heads of state, such as those of China and Russia. She was among the 36 international artists who performed at the first World Masters Festival of Arts and Culture—billed as "the cultural Olympics of the traditional artists of the world"—in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
in October 2007. In 2008, she was an Official Showcase Artist at WOMEX
WOMEX
WOMEX is an international world music support and development project based in Berlin, whose main event is an exposition held annually in different locations throughout Europe. It integrates a trade fair, showcases, conferences, film market, networking sessions, and awards...
—a world music exposition held that year in Seville, Spain— along with being a part of the musical program for the "Rose of the World 2008" in Russia.
Music and style
Sadikova sings lyrical songs of the Kyrgyz people and accompanies herself on the Kyrgyz lute, called komuzKomuz
The komuz or qomuz , Azeri Gopuz, Turkish Kopuz, is an ancient fretless string instrument used in Central Asian music, related to certain other Turkic string instruments and the lute....
. Some of her songs are traditional, or were popularized decades ago by Myskal Omurkanova (1915–1976), the first great Kyrgyz female artist to record extensively. Her other songs were often written specially for her by leading Kyrgyz and Kazakh composers, such as Kyrgyzstan's unofficial national anthem, Kyrgyz Jeri (Kyrgyz Land), though she performs some original compositions as well. In content and emotion, Sadikova's songs might be compared to the ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
song tradition or to Portugese fado
Fado
Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar, Rui Vieira Nery, states that "the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best...
.
As translated from a quote from Plural World, Sadikova says:
Notable songs
The follow are some popular pieces sung by Sadikova:- "Esingdebi"
- "Alymkan"
- "Кыргыз жерим" (Kyrgyz Jeri)
- "Гүлгүн Жаш"
- "Ay nuru" (Moonlight)
- "Qïzïl gül"(Red Flower)
Tours
In 2008 and 2009, Sadikova had concert tours in Moscow, Ukraine, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, South Korea and Taiwan.- WOMEX 2008 - Seville, Spain
- Festival Roza Mira - Moscow
- World's Master of Music – South Korea in 2007 and 2009
- Hengchun International Folk Song and Music Festival – Taiwan
- International Festival of Music and Dance "Svirzh" – Ukraine
- Tour concerts in Japan, Germany, Turkey, Netherlands, Belgium
- 2 solo concerts in Oman – Muscat and Salalah, in the frame of the cultural events of the Ministry of Tourism of Oman. February 2010
Critical reception
Michael Heumann, in the online Stylus MagazineStylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
, wrote the following regarding Sadikova: