Shashmaqam music: A shared culture for Muslims and Jews

Muslim and Jews from Central Asia, have long been part of a shared heritage of traditional Shashmaqam musical style.

Together, they have created the most beautiful spiritual and uplifting music; the lyrics of which come from classical Sufi poetry of the revered mystics in this region.

The centuries old Shashmaqam classical music, originated in Bukhara (Uzbekistan). It started as spiritual sounds and words; a way to connect to the divine.

The music is calm and sophisticated, and is played on instruments such as long-necked lutes, frame drum, which is similar to a tambourine, and the tanbour, which is like a bass fiddle.

Bukhara under the Muslim empires was a diverse society. The development of Shashmaqam subsequently has a great deal of influence from many Muslim cultures in the surrounding regions, Jewish communities, and the indigenous traditions of the Tajik people. It is a wonderful blend of all these rich traditions.

Central Asia was a hub of civilisation and culture under Muslim rule, and Shashmaqam was part of the tradition and was patronised by the Court.

 While music and poetry are the main focus of Shashmaqam, dance often supports the portrayal of the piece. It is a popular dance in Central Asian culture, and reflects the deeply rooted connection to Sufism and the sam’a traditions. Dancers don a small purse which is said to represent the Qu’ran.

In the last century, Shashmaqam performances have become formalised with a set choreography; this is a result of the influence of western concepts of dance.

There are two types of Shashmaqam, one is a traditional form, where the technique is passed on directly from teacher to student, in the Central Asian ‘Ustod-shogird’ customary way. The twentieth century, Shashmaqam, on the other hand is still influenced from the classical style, but has become more of a national political movement to assert a Central Asian identity post-Soviet colonialism.

Both Muslims and Jews were historically involved in playing and promoting Shashmaqam according to Professor Rapport from the New School in New York.

The Jewish community were known to be particularly skilled at music and dance. They began to play more at Court, and take a more prominent role in music and dance when the Soviets colonised Central Asia.

“The real flourishing of Bukharan Jews’ maqam performance occurred during the Soviet period, beginning in the 1920s and continuing until their mass departure from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.” (Alexander Djumaev)

In the twentieth century, most Jews left Central Asia for Israel, the USA and Europe. However, the Central Asian Jewish community have continued to promulgate the tradition of Shashmaqam in the diaspora.

Professor Rapport states that this unique musical heritage continues to unite:

“Shashmaqam is a place where Muslims and Jews really came together. There are lots of productive exchanges and collaborations in the world of music.”

It’s heartening to see this classical music tradition continuing to flourish around the world. The music and accompanying dance performances conjure up visions of a culturally vibrant and diverse Central Asia, a land that was once the centre of civilisation.