The Xinjiang Uygur Muqam is a general term for various Muqam practices spread across Uyghur-inhabited areas in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, constituting a comprehensive art form integrating song, dance and music. Within the specific cultural context of the Uyghur people, Muqam has become a term encompassing literary works, music, dance, drama and even aspects of ethnic identity and religious beliefs.
Historically, the Xinjiang region has been a melting pot of multiple ethnic groups It is situated at the center location of the ancient Silk Road, where various religions coexist and cultures from the East and West exchange. Hence a rich cultural heritage here. The Muqam art of Xinjiang's Uyghur community has a long history of formation and development.
The songs in Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam art encompass proverbs, poetry, prophetic admonitions, folk stories, and more, serving as an encyclopedia reflecting the lives and social customs of the Uyghur people. The repertoire includes both eulogistic and narrative songs, performing in various styles such as ensemble, unison, and solo, with diverse lyrical rhymes and rhyming patterns.
Song and dance are central features of Uyghur Muqam, showcasing dance techniques. In collective dances, dance formations and movements display remarkable variety.
Apart from the main representative work The Twelve Muqam, other Muqam forms such as Dolan Muqam, Turpan Muqam and Hami Muqam are also passed down.
In the 1940s, there were only a few artists capable of fully performing Muqam. In the 1950s, the government recorded performances of The Twelve Muqam by some masters. After 1978, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region government and other social organizations began collecting, compiling and preserving ethnic and folk cultures in a large scale. In recent years, various forms of popular culture accompanying urbanization and industrialization have become prevalent in Uyghur communities, posing a significant challenge to traditional cultures.
Translator: SHEN Ruixuan
Reviewer: BAI Jing
