JETIGEN — A Musical ensemble

Jetigen is a performing ensemble from Children’s Musical School No 7 in Bishkek which was opened in 1969, the only one in the southern micro-regions — the biggest housing estate in the city.

The school's pupils number more than 250 children. They are trained on many musical instruments, such as: piano, bayan (a kind of accordion), accordion, violin, komuz, Tekir komuz (or iron komuz — like a "Jew's Harp"), chopo choor, guitar, trumpet and a variety of percussion instruments. Besides the solo performers there are a number of ensembles: two choruses, ensembles of komuzists, violinists, bayanists, iron komuzists and a folk ensemble.

The talented and hard working staff of the school is led by it's experienced director, Ayzada Mamataipovna, who is a member of the Management Council of the Mayoralty of Culture and is a representative on the Bishkek Council of Directors of Children's Musical and Creative Schools. More than 500 students have graduated from the school since it was opened. Most of them have chosen music as a major and continued their studies at higher musical academic institutions. Students and teachers give numerous concerts and lecture-concerts at the Philharmonic Society.

The musicians of the children’s ensemble, «Jetigen», use traditional instruments in their performances. The age of ensemble members varies from 12 to 17 years old. Their performing skill is of a high, professional and virtuouso standard. In performing complicated «two-voice works», the musicians of the ensemble can match the performances of other, more experienced, ensembles. They have take part in city and republican competitions such as «Young Talents» (in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000); at the festival Osh — 3000; at competitions of the «Meerim» foundation; competitions to mark the anniversary of Altay Ogonbaev, (where they received a diploma and prize for virtuousness); and they have been awarded an honorary deed by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

If you would like, we can arrange a performance by the group as part of your stay in Bishkek.

A specimen programme for a concert includes the following items:

1. «Aktamak-Koktamak» — Atay Ogonbaev. This represents a duet between two songbirds — each singing abut its own land, but when the two fall in love with each other their two songs glow together.
2. «An attractive Mountain» — A. Baybatyrov. This piece is about the entrancing nature of Kyrgyzstan. If you listen careful you can envisage beautiful mountains with snow-white peaks.
3. «The Dawn Nightingale» — Borbiev. This piece is about a nightingale which breaks into song about its joyful life at dawn
4. The Kyrgyz traditional melody «Sarinji Bokoy». This tells of a legend of two brothers, one of whom is dying and asks his brother to take care of his son, whose name is Sarinji Bokoy
5. A beautiful Kyrgyz traditional melody «Saingee River», which depicts the appearance of mountain pastures and valleys.
6. «Koyron Kuu» — Aydaaraly. The title translates as «Braggart» and the piece describes the character of a bully.
7. «Kara Ozgoy» — Boroshev. This is about the character of a Kyrgyz woman who overcomes difficulties of her everyday life. She is milking a cow which kicks her and tries to stop her. She pays no attention and gets on with her work.
8. A traditional French tune «Uncle Jacob».
9. «Mash Botoy» — Atay Ogonbaev. This is about a traditional Kyrgyz sport — Kyz Kuuma — where a dzhigit (young man) on horseback has to catch a girl and steal a kiss from her.