P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Iraj Bashiri

192
His immense abilities as a singer and conductor date to that time. His

repertoire is rich and varied. In the main, however, he deals with lyric
songs, popular ditties, and the music that belong to all the peoples of the
Soviet Union. His themes include praise of the motherland, the beauties
of nature, love and kindness, youth, ethics, and sadness and happiness.
Among these, there is a series based on the poetry of M. Tursunzoda,
including "Vatan" ("Homeland"), "Dili Modar" ("A Mother's Heart"),
"Norizo" ("Dissatisfied"), "Ohanrabo" ("Magnet"), "Oshiyoni 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 Hafiz
of Shiraz, "Ramzi Shunav" ("Listen to a Secret"), by Jalol al-Din Rumi,
and "Guli Sadbarg" ("A Hundred Petalled Flower"), by B. Rahimzoda.
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
Sharif Juroev, 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. It was called Surudhoi Jurobek Murodov (Jurobek
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 became a People's Artist of the Soviet Union in 1979. He also
received the Badge of Honor and won the Rudaki State Prize in 1987. In
addition, he received the Red Banner of Courage and the Honorary
Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan.
Murodov has traveled to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Belgium, India,
Canada, United States, Yemen, Pakistan, Syria, and Japan.