Abstract. The article examines the normative-legal and theoretical foundations for recognising the musical culture of Uzbekistan as an object of intangible cultural heritage. Through the analysis of the UNESCO 2003 Convention, the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan as amended in 2009, and two 2006 monographs by the Uzbek musicologist R. Abdullaev, the relationship between three systems of foundations for recognition is established: international-legal, national-legal, and academic-musicological. It is demonstrated that Uzbek academic musicology, independently of international norm-setting work, has articulated conceptual frameworks coinciding with the conceptual apparatus of the 2003 Convention. The conclusion is drawn about the consistency of the three foundations of recognition and about their productivity for studying innovative processes in contemporary Uzbek musical culture.

Key words: intangible cultural heritage, UNESCO 2003 Convention, musical culture of Uzbekistan, shashmaqom, Boysun, R.Abdullaev, Uzbek musicology.