Lucy Duran explores the music of three of the country's 56 different ethnic groups. She visits Xinjiang, China's largest province that makes up one-sixth of the country's land-mass. On the ancient Silk Route, it is also home to the Muslim Uyghur people who perform muqam, a type of music that can be found all over the region from Azerbaijan in the west to China in the east.

Playlist:
Introduction with Lucy at the Sunday livestock market in Kashgar, Xinjiang

Ensemble of the Xinjiang Arts Institute: Muka Dima Jula from Mushaureq Muqam
Recorded Saturday 29 March 2008 in Urumqi

Ensemble of the Xinjiang Arts Institute: Merghouli from Chushurigisi Muqam
Recorded Saturday 29 March 2008 in Urumqi

Lucy talks about the Uyghur people of Xinjiang: Xinjiang is China's largest province and covers about a sixth of the country's land mass.

Lucy talks with her guide Jiang Anxi, musician and researcher

Ensemble of the Xinjiang Arts Institute: Small Selike
Recorded Saturday 29 March 2008 in Urumqi

Lucy and Anxi in conversation on the Kashgar-Islamabad Highway, which is part of the old Silk Road

Ensemble of the Xinjiang Arts Institute: Muka Dima Jula from Mushaureq Muqam
Recorded Saturday 29 March in Urumqi

Lucy briefly links from one side of Kashgar to the other

The Drum and Shawm Band of Shule: Sanam (a suite of dances)
Recorded Monday 31 March 2008 in Shule

Lucy describes the music and how it has spread along the Silk Routes

Lucy describes the sand storm experienced on the way to Shache

Musicians from the Shache Area of Xinjiang: Nawa Muqam (extracts)
Recorded Sunday 30 March 2008 in Shache
Lucy describes how the stage was made into a recording studio for 27 muqam musicians.

Interview with Professor Zhou Ji, expert on Muqam music
Voice over: David Yip
Zhou Ji sadly passed away soon after this interview was recorded. He was the leading authority on Uyghur music, and leader of the successful bid for UNESCO recognition of the Uyghur Muqam.

Ensemble of the Xinjiang Arts Institute: First Meshrep from Mushaureq Muqam
Recorded Saturday 29 March in Urumqi

Lucy describes Xinjiang, and recounts the search for a suitable recording venue for the Dolan Muqam.

Dolan Musicians from Mekit: Hudek Bayawan
Recorded Monday 31 March 2008 in a village outside Shache

Lucy describes the dancers who have come in from the fields on hearing the music.
Interview with Muqam musician Yasin
Voice over: Haoyu Zhang

Dolan Musicians from Mekit: Jula Muqam
Recorded Monday 31 March 2008 in a village outside Shache

Ensemble of the Xinjiang Arts Institute: Merghouli from Chushurigisi Muqam
Recorded Saturday 29 March in Urumqi

Closing thoughts from Lucy

Ensemble of the Xinjiang Arts Institute: Meshrep from Nawa Muqam
Recorded Saturday 29 March in Urumqi

All music recordings were made on location, specially for the BBC by sound engineer James Birtwistle Show less