THE ROLE OF THE TANBUR IN SHAPING VOCAL PHRASING IN UZBEK CLASSICAL MUSIC

Abstract

The tanbur, a long-necked fretted lute, occupies a central position in Uzbek classical music, particularly within the Shashmaqom tradition. While extensive scholarship has addressed the tanbur’s role as a solo and ensemble instrument, comparatively little attention has been paid to its function as a pedagogical and performance tool for shaping vocal phrasing. This article investigates how the tanbur’s physical construction, tuning system, and performance techniques influence the way singers articulate maqom melodies. Through analysis of traditional teaching methods, examination of the tanbur’s fretted fingerboard as a visual map of modal structure, and consideration of the instrument’s timbral relationship to the human voice, this study demonstrates that the tanbur serves not merely as an accompaniment but as a primary model for vocal phrase design, ornamentation, and rhythmic articulation in Uzbek classical singing.