My project is an exploration into the origins of shashmaqam, a Central Asian musical tradition which Bukharian Jews have brought to the United States. As a Bukharian Jew, I believe strongly in the idea that our culture should persist even as we assimilate into a different country, and shashmaqam is one of the ways in which we accomplish that. I spent some time researching the history of shashmaqam and exploring contemporary performances in the genre that I thought might be good introductions to the genre for viewers.
December 5, 2023