TULKIN KURBONOV (1936-2002) is one of the outstanding representatives of the Uzbek composers school. The Uzbek national traditions in his creative work are enriched by the experience of world culture. T.Kurbonov graduated from the Tashkent State conservatory, having specialized in composition (class of B.Nadejdin, 1961), and the also studied in probation (class of B.Zeidinan) from 1963 to 1966. Then he perfected his skills at the Leningrad conservatory (class of Prof. B.Arapov) in 1968-1969, and perfectly assimilated composition. The profoundly national compositions of T.Kurbonov are the result of his studying the national creative work at the Music Faculty at the Arts Institute. His 4th, 5th and 6th symphonies (for symphony orchestra), 7th and 8th symphonies (for Uzbek folk orchestra), "Shirok", "Shakhzod and Parizod" ballets (the libretto of I.Malmberg), music to the drama of N.Kobil "The birth of prophet Abraham", "Tuyona", "Avicena", "Pages of History" polyphonic series deserve a particular attention.
Five poems, called "Khamsa" for Uzbek orchestra, «Rechitativ» for trumpet, french, trombone, and kettle drums, recently published in Switzerland, also possess a place among his works. The love, to the Motherland, profound morals, philosophic idea are expressed in the above mentioned works. Nowadays Prof. T.Kurbonov works at the Faculty of Composition and Instrumentation at the Tashkent State conservatory. He is the author of the “Polyphonic course-book”, written in Uzbek. T.Kurbonov teaches composition and polyphony. V.Saparov, N.Giyosov, D.Omonullaeva were among his students.
His poem “in the Khorezm manner” is composed for string orchestra and percussion. The composition is devoted to the 2500th anniversary of ancient Khiva. The composer expresses a holiday mood of people by means of vivid national colors.