Gavriel Mullokandov
Encyclopedia
Gavriel Mullokandov is widely regarded as the greatest Bukharian Jewish singer and musician
. He was the People’s Artist of Uzbekistan
.
Born on April 8, 1900, in Samarkand
, to a family of music lovers. He got much of his musical training and experience from his older brothers and from the age of nine began to sing in synagogue
. At the age of 11 Gavriel was already singing on weddings and concerts and public loved him. From his childhood, he learned everything about Shashmakom (a style of music in Central Asia
) and could play all local instruments
.
During the 1920’s Gavriel worked with his brother Mihoel, who was also one of the greatest singers and musicians in Central Asia. In 1925-26 they were joined by Levi Babahanov, who once was a court musician of Emir of Bukhara.
In 1929 Gavriel Mullokandov won a contest in Samarkand
for the best Shashmakom singer and was recognized as a new music star.
In 1930-32 Gavriel and Mihoel Mullokandovs together with other Bukharian activists organized a Bukharian Jewish theater
in Samarkand. In it, they were joined by such outstanding Bukharian Jews as Aron Saidov, Murduhai Bachaev and Bahor Kandhorov. The Jewish theater became very famous in Central Asia
, Moscow
, Leningrad
and Baku
.
In 1936 Gavriel Mullokandov was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Uzbekistan
. In the following years he was awarded with many other government awards.
In 1940 Mullokandov was elected to the City Council
of Samarkand.
During the Second World War, Gavriel Mullokandov was among the artists of Bukharian Jewish Theater, who traveled around the USSR performing in support of the war effort.
Mullokandov did a lot to promote Bukharian Jewish culture. Songs that he sang, music that he played were forever saved in the archives of Uzbek
and Tajik
radio
and television
.
Even though he lived in the atheist state, Mullokandov never forgot his roots and religion
. He celebrated Jewish holiday
s and his home was always full of people, who came to listen to his songs.
Gavriel Mullokandov also promoted peaceful and friendly relations between Uzbek and Tajik people and Bukharian Jews. He was very respected by non-Jewish population. One of his best friends was the great Uzbek writer Gafur Gulyam, who during the war wrote a poem called “Men – Yahudiy” or “I’m a Jew”.
Mullokandov died on February 6, 1972. In 1976, the Central Committee of Uzbekistan renamed Eastern Street in Samarkand, where he was born and lived most of his life, in his honor. In November 2000, a street in Tel Aviv
suburb of Ramla
was named after him.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He was the People’s Artist of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
.
Born on April 8, 1900, 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...
, to a family of music lovers. He got much of his musical training and experience from his older brothers and from the age of nine began to sing in synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
. At the age of 11 Gavriel was already singing on weddings and concerts and public loved him. From his childhood, he learned everything about Shashmakom (a style of music in Central Asia
Central 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...
) and could play all local instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
.
During the 1920’s Gavriel worked with his brother Mihoel, who was also one of the greatest singers and musicians in Central Asia. In 1925-26 they were joined by Levi Babahanov, who once was a court musician of Emir of Bukhara.
In 1929 Gavriel Mullokandov won a contest 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...
for the best Shashmakom singer and was recognized as a new music star.
In 1930-32 Gavriel and Mihoel Mullokandovs together with other Bukharian activists organized a Bukharian Jewish theater
Jewish theater
The term Jewish theater may refer to:* Yiddish theater* Habimah* Secular Jewish culture* Association for Jewish Theatre...
in Samarkand. In it, they were joined by such outstanding Bukharian Jews as Aron Saidov, Murduhai Bachaev and Bahor Kandhorov. The Jewish theater became very famous in Central Asia
Central 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...
, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
.
In 1936 Gavriel Mullokandov was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
. In the following years he was awarded with many other government awards.
In 1940 Mullokandov was elected to the City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
of Samarkand.
During the Second World War, Gavriel Mullokandov was among the artists of Bukharian Jewish Theater, who traveled around the USSR performing in support of the war effort.
Mullokandov did a lot to promote Bukharian Jewish culture. Songs that he sang, music that he played were forever saved in the archives of Uzbek
Uzbek language
Uzbek is a Turkic language and the official language of Uzbekistan. It has about 25.5 million native speakers, and it is spoken by the Uzbeks in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in Central Asia...
and Tajik
Tajik language
Tajik, Tajik Persian, or Tajiki, is a variety of modern Persian spoken in Central Asia. Historically Tajiks called their language zabani farsī , meaning Persian language in English; the term zabani tajikī, or Tajik language, was introduced in the 20th century by the Soviets...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
Even though he lived in the atheist state, Mullokandov never forgot his roots and religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. He celebrated Jewish holiday
Jewish holiday
Jewish holidays are days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. In Hebrew, Jewish holidays and festivals, depending on their nature, may be called yom tov or chag or ta'anit...
s and his home was always full of people, who came to listen to his songs.
Gavriel Mullokandov also promoted peaceful and friendly relations between Uzbek and Tajik people and Bukharian Jews. He was very respected by non-Jewish population. One of his best friends was the great Uzbek writer Gafur Gulyam, who during the war wrote a poem called “Men – Yahudiy” or “I’m a Jew”.
Mullokandov died on February 6, 1972. In 1976, the Central Committee of Uzbekistan renamed Eastern Street in Samarkand, where he was born and lived most of his life, in his honor. In November 2000, a street in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
suburb of Ramla
Ramla
Ramla , is a city in central Israel. The city is predominantly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. Ramla was founded circa 705–715 AD by the Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abed al-Malik after the Arab conquest of the region...
was named after him.