The article investigates the process of formation of Russian musical oriental studies in interaction with ethnomusicology from which it separated in the last century and with academic history of music. The main directions of musical oriental studies are designated: Sinology; researches of music of India and Southern Asia; Arabic, Iranian and Turkey speaking people’, Mongolian music studies. The main stages of formation of musical oriental studies are considered, scientific schools and spheres are designated: traditional music of the non-European people, including forms of musical professionalism, the music of composers in system of national culture and in communications with others professional traditions, historical researches on music of Asia, etc. The contribution of Russian and some foreign scientists to formation of this scientific field is shown.
Abstract