Jurabek Murodov

Autobiography From "Prominent Figures of the Twentieth Century" by Iraj Bashiri:

Tajik singer and composer Jurabek Murodov was born on December 24, 1942, in the village of Kurud, Aini District, Sughd Oblast, Tajikistan. A student of Hoji Abulaziz and Boymuhammad Niyozov, he knows the intricacies of classical songs more than any of the other composers.

Murodov graduated from Leninabad Pedagogical Institute in 1962. He spent the next year teaching at the same institute. In 1963, he became a soloist ofor the Tajik Philharmonic Society. In 1993, he became a soloist at the Khujand Theater named after Kamoli Khujandi.

His immense abilities as a singer and conductor date to that time. his repertoire is reach and varied. In the main, however, he deals with lyric songs, popular ditties, and the music the belong to all the peoples of the [former] Soviet Union. His themes include praise of the motherland, the beauties of nature, love and kindness, youth, ethics, sadness and happiness. Among these, there is a series based on the poetry of Mirzo Tursunzodah, including "Vatan" ("Homeland"), "Dili Modar" ("A Mother's Heart"), "Norizo" ("Dissatisfied"), "Ohanrabo" ("Magnet"), "Oshyoni Baland" ("Lofty Nest"), "Munojot" ("Incantation") and "Savti Miskin" ("The Voice of the Poor"), which are well-known. Other songs based on the works of medieval??masters include "Khush Naboshad" ("It Would Not be Pleasant") and "Didori Yor" ("The Sight of the Beloved"), by Hafizi Shirazi, "Roze Shunav" ("Listen to a Secret"), by Jalol ud-Dini Rumi and "Guli Sadbarg" ("Rose Flower") by Boqi Rahimzodah.

Murodov is an insightful and innovative composer. He has incorporated the essence of the classical and popular music of the Tajiks into more than one hundred songs. His poetry revives the works of Aka Sharif Juraev, himself an icon in the eyes of his peers. In addition, Murodov has revived some of the old songs. More importantly, he has enhanced some of the songs that were originally not as forceful as they could have been. A collection of his songs was published in 1982 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. It was called "Surudhoi Jurabek Murodov" ("Jurabek Murodov's Songs").

Murodov is one of the most well-known singers of classical and popular Tajik Songs. He received the Lenin Komsomol Prize in 1975, and was honored with "A People's Artist of the Soviet Union" rank in 1979. He also received the Badge of Honor and won Rudaki State Prize in 1987. In addition, he received the Red Banner of Courage and the Honorary Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan.

Murodov has traveled to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Belgium, India, Canada, United States, Yemen, Pakistan, Syria, [Israel] and Japan.