Traditions in the khalfa art of Khorezm
K.T.Abdirimov
Urgench State University
Abstract:
This article provides information on the traditions of khalfa
1
art
known in Khorezm.
Keywords:
hofiz (singer), khalfa, melody, song.
Traditions in the development of song performance in Khorezm can be seen in
five main directions. These are dastans (epic poems), makoms, mystical sayings,
khalfa ways, popular melodies and songs. These are all
concepts in a very broad
sense in the field of song performance.
Every masterful singer at the teacher level is popularly referred to as “Hofiz” by
fans. The singers were also called “Khalfa”, “Bakhshi”, “Talqinchi”, “Goyanda”,
“Mughanni” and they differed from each other in their style of performance.
The art of khalfa plays an important role in Khorezm music folklore. While the
distinctive features of male and female khalfa musicians are perceived more in terms
of the functions they perform at weddings and ceremonies in their singing and
lifestyle, melodies and methods form a common treasure trove of artistic heritage in
terms of form and text of musical works.
If we think about the art of khalfa, the art of khalfa is one of the genres of the
Uzbek folk musical heritage preserved in Khorezm oasis, which has been preserved
to this day through the teacher-apprentice. In Khorezm, literate, eloquent, intelligent
women with singing skills were called “khalfa”. In the past, women who read the
sacred book of Zoroastrianism, the Avesto, and propagated them among women were
also called khalfas. Educated women not only promoted religious books, but also
read the works of Navoi and Fuzuli, as well as folk epics copied from the book and
served as khalfas in the
circle of women at weddings, celebrations and mourning
ceremonies.
The traditions of khalfa art in Khorezm can be divided into three groups
depending on their essence:
1. Creative, poetic khalflas.
2. performer and musician khalfas.
3. Khalfas who recite dastans without melody.
1
Khalfa – a kind of folklore art peculiar to Khorezm region organized by women singers
"Science and Education" Scientific Journal / ISSN 2181-0842
December 2021 / Volume 2 Issue 12
www.openscience.uz
524
The creative, poetic khalfas memorized the full text of folk dastans and were
able to sing them to the rhythm of music.
At the same time, they were engaged in
artistic creation and created wonderful folk poems.
Performer and musician khalfas do not memorize the full text of dastans or read
them through a book, but only sing some folk songs and poems from the dastans.
They are organized into a specific ensemble, consisting of a harmonica player (or
kayrak
2
player), a doirachi, and (sometimes a drummer) dancer,
who serve at
weddings and celebrations attended by three people. In some circles, khalfas sang,
not with the help of a musical instrument, but with the sound of two bowls or plates
striking to each other.
The khalfas, who recite dastans by heartless recitation, recite dastans only from
memory or from a book. Khalfas in this group do not have to have singing ability.
In the teacher-apprentice tradition, the study of the art of khalfa was also a
school with its own style. Girls who are passionate about
this profession have been
apprentices of famous khalfas for four or five years. During his apprenticeship, they
learned songs, dastans and gazelles from their teachers that were sung at weddings
and other celebrations. Khalfas accompanied their disciples to weddings, sat together,
sang together or danced together. In such trials, the students who won the applause of
the team were blessed by their teachers and had the title of khalfa.
Khalfa singer's performance is accompanied by two types - without melody or
accompanied by a musical instrument. This is determined by factors such as the
singer's uniqueness, skill, and the content and form of the text. While the singer's
method of performing in a folk melody without a musical
instrument is relatively
ancient and is more in tune with traditional melodies, we think that the way of
performing with the help of a bowl, a doira, a harmonica belongs to the last rounds.
Second, the participation of singer-songwriters in the process of individual and
collective performance is also unique. Typically,
in such a group performance
involving a harmonica player, a doirachi and a dancer, the singer will lead the khalfa.
Because the songs and terms are sung directly by a singer-khalfa, in some cases
others may accompany it. Sorahon Ollaberganova, Sorabibi Ahmedova, Ullibibi
Boyjonova, Saodat Khudoiberganova were famous in this field.
At
modern weddings, the repertoire of the singer khalfas includes songs from
the series “Toy muborak (Happy Wedding)”, “Yor-yor”, “Kelin salom (Bride
greeting)”.
Muboraklar bo’lgay atgan to’yingiz,
Juft patikli ko’shki-ayvon joyingiz,
Mudoma izzatda o’tgay umringiz,
Boshlagan to’yingiz muborak bo’lgay.
2
National musical instrument in Khorezm.
"Science and Education" Scientific Journal / ISSN 2181-0842
December 2021 / Volume 2 Issue 12
www.openscience.uz
525
The new khalfa also has a special place in the series of khalfas. She is mainly an
active participant in the wedding ceremony and plays an organizing role: she plays an
important role in bringing the bride to the groom's house, saying “bride greeting”,
unbuttoning the bridegroom's belt, and, in general, raising the wedding ceremony.
Dastanchi is a storyteller khalfa. In this type of activity, the ability to express the
text is paramount. It was practiced until the beginning of the 20
th
century: only a few
of them (Khanim Suvchi, Burdam Khalfa, Momo Khalfa, etc.) performed the dastans
in their entirety. Most of them were content with singing one or another part of the
epics or some verses. That is why the khalfas, who narrate
dastans without melody
and musical instruments, are meant here. There are also religious epics that propagate
Islamic beliefs and are read in large circles by narrators.
Nowadays, there are very few khalfas who can memorize dastans and perform
them with their melodies. Among the famous khalfas living in Khorezm: according to
the data obtained from older people, Khonim Suvchi, Ojiza and Onajon khalfa learnt
by heart fully some of the dastans from the series “Oshiq Gharib and Shohsanam”,
“Asil and Karam”, “Oshiq Alband (Lover Alband)”, “Oshiq Mahmud (Lover
Makhmud)” and “Gorogli” and sang them to the rhythm in the circle of women.
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: 
