As a rule, a skillful maker of musical instruments can also play them well.To master this exquisite old craft, it goes far beyond having woodworking skills, a luthier need to have a natural ability to hear the rich and unique voice’ of wood and discover its resonant properties.
Not only is Dashoguz-based Orebay Annaev a master dutar maker, he also teaches children to play the instrument.He has taught the dutar for over 30 years at the Dashoguz Velayat School of Fine Arts.
Over the years he has nurtured many famous musicians; among them are Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Dovlet Durdyev and the master’s work colleague Byashim Gapparov.Although the craft skills tend to be handed down from parents to children, Orebay is the only instrument maker in the Annaev family.
He cannot explain himself now what made him start making dutars.Philosophically deep and melodically expressive oriental suites played on the dutar may have been a source of his inspiration.
Orebay regards Minever Bagshi from Gurbansoltaneje etrap, who also made dutars, as his primary mentor.It was he whom young Orebay showed the body of his first dutar he had carved from a piece of mulberry wood.
The bagshi was so impressed by Ore’s work that he offered the young fellow to teach him the tricks of dutar making as well as how to play the instrument.
Orebay studied at M.Garlyev School of Arts, and then at the National Music Conservatory.During all these years, he continued to master dutar making, having perfectly learned the properties of wood that can speak’ the elevated language of richly diverse music, being transformed into a musical instrument.
Today, renowned bagshis and young pupils alike play on the instruments made by Orebay Annaev.His dutars have been displayed at various exhibitions.Last year the talented teacher and dutarchi was awarded the title of People’s Master of Artistic Crafts.
Orebay tends to devote the first lesson of a new school year to the history of the dutar and the secrets of dutar making.