AZERBAIJAN

Folklore grup BUTA
 Group leader Arif Aliyev

The folklore ensemble “Buta” (buta is one of the fundamental patterns of Azerbaijan textile ornamentation) was founded in 2010 in a beautiful town of Agstafa situated in the North West of Azerbaijan, the valley of Kura river. The leader of the ensemble Arif Aliyev is the director of the local children music school. He both leads the group and plays the tar (a long-necked string bass musical instrument from Azerbaijan and Iran). In 2012 craftsmanship and performance art of the tar was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The group members also play other traditional instruments – kemancha (string music instrument similar to Arabian rubab), ghaval (percussion drum type instrument). Kemancha is an especially important instrument performing the Azerbaijani mugham music. Kemancha is played by individual musicians and ensembles. Ghaval is a popular instrument of the Middle East and one of the rare instruments having preserved its authentic form. 

The ensemble “Buta” has been actively participating in national folk culture events for several years.  “Buta” is a performer of Azerbaijani traditional mugham music, which considerably differs from Arabian and Turkish mugham.  The tradition of Azerbaijani mugham has been also inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.