Komiljon Otaniyozov

A famous Uzbek singer, instrumentalist, and composer, Komiljon Otaniyozov mastered the art of singing, earned the respect and attention of the people, and worked productively as a composer, performing rare masterpieces of Uzbek song art and earning the applause of foreign music fans as well.

He diligently taught the achievements he attained in instrumental music and singing, as well as the subtle secrets of these complex art forms, to his students, training many talented instrumentalists and singers.

The talented Uzbek singer and instrumentalist Komiljon Otaniyozov was awarded the titles of «People's Artist of Uzbekistan», «People's Artist of Turkmenistan», «People's Artist of Karakalpakstan», and the «Order of Great Services» (Buyuk xizmatlari uchun).

The famous Uzbek singer, instrumentalist, and composer Komiljon Otaniyozov was born in 1917 in the village of Buyrachi, Shavat District, Khorezm Region. After initially learning Khorezm maqom vocal styles from M. Khudayberganov, he studied at the Hamza Music School in Tashkent from 1952 to 1956, and at the Tashkent State Conservatory from 1955 to 1956.

From 1936 to 1940, he worked as a singer and director at the Shavat District Theater, from 1941 to 1943 at the Khiva People's Theater, and from 1943 to 1952 as an actor and singer at the Ogahi Khorezm Regional Musical Drama Theater, where he played roles such as Farhod, Tohir, Parfi Hofiz, and others.

Starting in 1949, he formed a song and dance ensemble at the Khorezm Regional Theater and began giving concerts. K. Otaniyozov was a leading figure in establishing the Khorezm Folk Song and Dance Ensemble under the Uzbekistan State Philharmonic in 1956-1975, and in 1967, he founded the «Feruz» ensemble in the Shavat District of Khorezm.

In the 1930s, he began performing complex folk songs, songs from Khorezm epics, as well as Khorezm suvoras and maqoms. In particular, he performed songs such as «Dog’man», Feruz, «O’ynar», «O’lturg’usi», «Segoh», «Ayrilmasun nigoronday», «Ra’noni ko’rdim», «Nigora», and «Sayotxon bog’da» with great delight, winning over his fans.

After mastering the art of singing and gaining the respect and attention of the people, he also worked productively as a composer, writing famous songs such as «Salom senga Xorazmdan», «Muborak», «Aziz Vatanim», «Salom hind xalqiga», «O’zbekiston», and «Xorazm», which he performed with great passion.

In the 1950s, he created musical dramas such as «Aziz and Sanam» with A. Stepanov based on the works of A. Bobojonov, «Oshiq and Garib» with M. Yusupov and A. Stepanov, and in 1967, «The Last Khan» with S. Hayitboev based on a play by A. Bobojonov and M. Muhamedov.

At the same time, he went on creative tours to foreign countries such as China, India, Burma, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Thailand, and others, performing rare examples of Uzbek song art and earning the applause of foreign music lovers. He diligently taught his achievements in instrumental music and singing, as well as the subtle secrets of these complex art forms, to his students, training many talented instrumentalists and singers.

The services of the talented Uzbek singer and instrumentalist Komiljon Otaniyozov to the prosperity of Uzbek song and musical arts were recognized with the titles of «People's Artist of Uzbekistan» in 1949, «People's Artist of Turkmenistan» in 1961, and «People's Artist of Karakalpakstan» in 1968.

On the occasion of the 9th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan, K. Otaniyozov was awarded the «Order of Great Services» for his immense contribution to the development of national Uzbek culture.

Komiljon Otaniyozov passed away in Tashkent in 1975 and was buried in the village where he was born and raised.