“Only gold-smith knows the preciousness of gold”. These were the first words uttered by Turdi Ahun who performed 12 Muqam for life.
    Young poet Saipiddin  Azizi met this great folk artist for the first time in 1943.
    The old man seemed to mutter something to his long-necked bowed lute called Satar, put his head near the head of Satar and began to pluck it. A pleasant melody flew out of the lute.
    More than half a century later, Saipiddin  Azizi, who was then vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress recalled the scene of his first meeting with the old musician. What he said first was “You are a Uygur Muqam master. Take care. Your burden is heavy.”
    History has substantiated to his prediction. Toward the end of the 1940s, the economy of Xinjiang was in recession and people lived in dire poverty. The 12 Muqam was on the verge of extinction and its melody was hardly heard. Up to the 1950s, after the founding of New China, there was only one person who could sing the complete 12 Muqam. He was Turdi Ahun.
    The old musician was born in a musician’s family in Yengisar County. He mastered the 12 Muqam at the age of 20. He then performed the musical suite for more than 50 years in Kashgar, Hotan and other places. He could perform with tanbor, duttar, satar and rawap. His performance with satar was rated as unique in Xinjiang.