TRADITIONAL NAY PERFORMANCE AS A REFLECTION OF UZBEK MUSICAL THINKING

This article explores the distinctive characteristics of traditional nay performance within Uzbek musical culture. It examines the historical and cultural significance of the nay as both a musical instrument and a medium for spiritual and emotional expression. Special attention is given to breath technique, sound production, natural timbre, and the influence of national modal and maqom systems on performance practice. The study also emphasizes the role of ornamental techniques, the master–apprentice tradition, and the performer’s inner spiritual state in achieving artistic expressiveness. The article concludes that traditional nay performance represents a refined synthesis of technical mastery, aesthetic sensitivity, and cultural continuity, maintaining its vital role in contemporary Uzbek musical life.