Mukam's classic work «Өзһал»

Reflecting on the Uyghur theatre's interest in cultural and historical heritage, we should first of all mention the revival of Uyghur muqams on the theatre stage. First of all, we must have an idea of what is a muqam? «Twelve Muqams» is a single monumental cycle or a series of extended musical and poetic works, a masterpiece of medieval Uyghur musical art. Historically formed in Uyghur musical practice, the cycle includes the muqams «Rak», «Chapbayat», «Mushavirak», «Chargah», «Pyandzhigah», «Uzha», «Ajam», «Oshshak», «Bayat», «Nava», «Segah» and «Irak». The muqams manifested the artistic consciousness of a certain historical epoch, as well as the stable psychological foundations of the Uyghur people's worldview. Hence the complexity of form, the integrity of the figurative structure, and the strictness of aesthetic criteria. Each muqam of the «Twelve Muqams» system, in turn, forms a complex independent cycle of a number of vocal, instrumental and dance parts, which have independent names and are united by a common palato-intonation basis.

According to the decision of UNESCO /Department of the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation/ «12 Uyghur Muqams» - being the musical treasury of the Uyghur people, were included in the register of «SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF THE WORLD» in 2006.