KYRGYZ MUSIC

The most important place in Kyrgyz art belongs to instrumental music. All inhabitants of a nomad group — from children to the elderly would gather together in order to listen the master instrumentalist’s play. The most fascinating and interesting holidays were the times of the music competitions. Also, an instrumental ensemble was an essential element of military campaigns.

The main feature of the distinctive style of Kyrgyz music is the images it conjures in the mind. There is a very wide picturesque range: from heroics with dramatic (epic) effects, to the beauty of natural scenery (mountains, trees and streams) and domestic themes.

Among the numerous national instruments the most widespread and popular is the komuz, which has rich repertoire. It is a stringed instrument, plucked like a guitar. While playing it, the three strings are clasped by the left hand to the fingerboard and the right hand is used to pluck the strings in a variety of ways to draw out the sounds.

The Temir komuz has also become a musical symbol of Kyrgyz — like komuz. This instrument is extremely small. Made of iron, it is shaped in the form of a broken, stretched circle with two prongs, and attached to the center is a steel plate. The sound is made by placing the prongs between the lips and striking the steel plate — and adjusting the shape of the hollow of the mouth.

One of the popular wind instruments is the chopo-choor. It is made out of clay and has a shape that comfortably sits in palm like a putty-shaped ball with holes.

To much of the music there is a religious meaning, tightly connected with Kyrgyz shamanism. They had percussion instruments, such as the dobulba and asa-tayak. A dobulba is a one-sided framed drum with wed tied around one end. Striking it with the hands makes the sound. The asa-tayak is made out of wood in the shape of baton. Bells and other iron objects are attached to this framework as additional sources of sounds that are generated by rocking or striking the sharp end of instrument on the ground.

Some of these instruments can be seen on the reverse of the 1-som note.

We can arrange a concert of traditional Kyrgyz Music — performed by Jetigen — a performing ensemble from Children’s Musical School No 7 in Bishkek.