Music of Kazakhstan
Encyclopedia
The modern state of Kazakhstan
is home to the Kazakh State Kurmangazy Orchestra of Folk Instruments, the Kazakh State Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kazakh National Opera and the Kazakh State Chamber Orchestra. The folk instrument orchestra was named after Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly, a famous composer and dombra
player from the 19th century. Other Kazakh composers include Korkyt, Tattimbet, Sougur, Bayserke, Makhambet, Khazanghap, Yerkegali Rakhmadiev, Almaz Serkebayev, Mukhan Tulebayev, Tles Kazhgaliev, Nagim Mendygaliev, Akhmet Zhubanov, Ghaziza Akhmetkhysy Zhubanova, Mansur Sagatov, and Akhtoty Raimkulova.
When referring to traditional Kazakh music, authentic folklore must be separated from "folklorism". The latter denotes music executed by academically trained performers who aim at preserving the traditional music for coming generations.
As far as can be reconstructed, the music of Kazakhstan from the period before a strong Russian influence consists of following genres:
First, the introduction of musical academic institutions such as concert houses with opera stages, conservatories, where the European music was performed and taught, second, by trying to incorporate Kazakh traditional music into these academic structures.
Controlled by the Russian Empire
and then the Soviet Union
, Kazakhstan's folk and classical traditions became connected with ethnic Russian music
and Western European music. Prior to the 20th century, Kazakh folk music was collected and studied by ethnographic
research teams including composer
s, music critics and musicologist
s. In the first part of the 19th century, Kazakh music was transcribed in linear notation
. Some composers of this era set Kazakh folk songs to Russian-style European classical music.
The Kazakhs themselves, however, did not write their own music in notation until 1931. Later, as part of the Soviet Union, Kazakh folk culture was encouraged in a sanitized manner designed to avoid political and social unrest. The result was a bland derivative of real Kazakh folk music. In 1920, Aleksandr Zatayevich
, a Russian official, created major works of art music with melodies and other elements of Kazakh folk music. Beginning in 1928 and accelerating in the 1930s, he also adapted traditional Kazakh instruments for use in Russian-style ensembles, such as by increasing the number of fret
s and strings
. Soon, these styles of modern orchestral playing became the only way for musicians to officially play; Kazakh folk was turned into patriotic, professional and socialist endeavors http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/publictn/46/touda/touda-eng.html.
The Foundation Asyl Mura is archivating and publishing historical recordings of geat samples of Kazakh music both traditional and classical.
The leading Conservatoire is in Almaty, the Qurmanghazy Conservatoire. It currently competes with the national conservatoire in Astana, Kazakhstans capital.
The other instrument playing an important role is the Qobyz, which belongs to the fiddle instruments made of carved wood for the body, animal skin for the resonator, and horse hair for the strings, and the bow. The Qobyz is said to have been invented by the legendary shaman Qorqyt, long before the medievial ages.
The "Zhetigen" ("Seven strings") could be seen as a member of the cither family, finding equivalents in China, with the strings being divided each in two parts of different lengths, the bridge being movable and consisting of small bone.
For more information on individual instruments, see:
Another very challenging aspect arises from the young composers generation, and the rock and jazz musicians, as they aim to incorporate their traditional heritage into the music they learned from the western cultures, thus forming a new stage of "ethnic contemporary classics", respectively ethnic rock or jazz music that sounds distinctly Kazakh. For the classical sector outstanding: Aqtoty Raimkulova, for jazz: "Magic of Nomads", Rock: Roksonaki, URKER, Ulytau.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
is home to the Kazakh State Kurmangazy Orchestra of Folk Instruments, the Kazakh State Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kazakh National Opera and the Kazakh State Chamber Orchestra. The folk instrument orchestra was named after Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly, a famous composer and dombra
Dombra
The dombura is a long-necked lute popular in Central Asian nations...
player from the 19th century. Other Kazakh composers include Korkyt, Tattimbet, Sougur, Bayserke, Makhambet, Khazanghap, Yerkegali Rakhmadiev, Almaz Serkebayev, Mukhan Tulebayev, Tles Kazhgaliev, Nagim Mendygaliev, Akhmet Zhubanov, Ghaziza Akhmetkhysy Zhubanova, Mansur Sagatov, and Akhtoty Raimkulova.
Traditional music
As far as can be reconstructed, the music of Kazakhstan from the period before a strong Russian influence consists of following genres:
- Instrumental music, with the pieces ("Küy") being performed by soloists. Text is often seen in the background (or "program") for the music, as a lot of Küy titles refer to stories.
- Vocal music, either as part of a ceremony such as a wedding (mainly performed by women), or as part of a feast. Here we might divide into sub genres: epic singing, containing not only historical facts, but as well the tribe's genealogy, love songs, didactic verses; and as a special form the composition of two or more singers in public (Aitys), of dialogue character and usually unexpectedly frankly in content.
Russian and Soviet-era music
The Russian influence on the music life in Kazakhstan can be seen in two spheres:First, the introduction of musical academic institutions such as concert houses with opera stages, conservatories, where the European music was performed and taught, second, by trying to incorporate Kazakh traditional music into these academic structures.
Controlled by the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and then the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Kazakhstan's folk and classical traditions became connected with ethnic Russian music
Ethnic Russian music
Ethnic Russian music specifically deals with the folk music traditions of the ethnic Russian people. It does not include the various forms of art music, which in Russia often contains folk melodies and folk elements or music of aother ethnic groups living in Russia.-History:The roots of Russian...
and Western European music. Prior to the 20th century, Kazakh folk music was collected and studied by ethnographic
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
research teams including composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s, music critics and musicologist
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
s. In the first part of the 19th century, Kazakh music was transcribed in linear notation
Musical notation
Music notation or musical notation is any system that represents aurally perceived music, through the use of written symbols.-History:...
. Some composers of this era set Kazakh folk songs to Russian-style European classical music.
The Kazakhs themselves, however, did not write their own music in notation until 1931. Later, as part of the Soviet Union, Kazakh folk culture was encouraged in a sanitized manner designed to avoid political and social unrest. The result was a bland derivative of real Kazakh folk music. In 1920, Aleksandr Zatayevich
Aleksandr Zatayevich
Aleksandr Viktorovich Zatayevich was a Russian music ethnographer and exponent of Central Asian folk music.-Life:Zatayevich was born on 20 March 1869 in Oryol. He graduated from the Oryol military gymnasium in 1886. He was largely self-taught in music theory...
, a Russian official, created major works of art music with melodies and other elements of Kazakh folk music. Beginning in 1928 and accelerating in the 1930s, he also adapted traditional Kazakh instruments for use in Russian-style ensembles, such as by increasing the number of fret
Fret
A fret is a raised portion on the neck of a stringed instrument, that extends generally across the full width of the neck. On most modern western instruments, frets are metal strips inserted into the fingerboard...
s and strings
Strings (music)
A string is the vibrating element that produces sound in string instruments, such as the guitar, harp, piano, and members of the violin family. Strings are lengths of a flexible material kept under tension so that they may vibrate freely, but controllably. Strings may be "plain"...
. Soon, these styles of modern orchestral playing became the only way for musicians to officially play; Kazakh folk was turned into patriotic, professional and socialist endeavors http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/publictn/46/touda/touda-eng.html.
Musical institutions
The Musical-Dramatic Training College, founded in 1931, was the first institute of higher education for music. Two years later, the Orchestra of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments was formed http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/publictn/46/touda/touda-eng.html.The Foundation Asyl Mura is archivating and publishing historical recordings of geat samples of Kazakh music both traditional and classical.
The leading Conservatoire is in Almaty, the Qurmanghazy Conservatoire. It currently competes with the national conservatoire in Astana, Kazakhstans capital.
Musical traditional instruments
The most popular traditional instruments are string instruments. First of them is the Dombra, the most popular and the oldest Kazakh music instrument. Some argue that nomands have used similar two-string instruments more than two thousand years ago. Dombra is a long necked lute with (originally) two strings tuned in the interval of a fifth.The other instrument playing an important role is the Qobyz, which belongs to the fiddle instruments made of carved wood for the body, animal skin for the resonator, and horse hair for the strings, and the bow. The Qobyz is said to have been invented by the legendary shaman Qorqyt, long before the medievial ages.
The "Zhetigen" ("Seven strings") could be seen as a member of the cither family, finding equivalents in China, with the strings being divided each in two parts of different lengths, the bridge being movable and consisting of small bone.
For more information on individual instruments, see:
- DombraDombraThe dombura is a long-necked lute popular in Central Asian nations...
- KobyzKobyzThe Kobyz or kyl-kobyz is an ancient Kazakh string instrument. It has two strings made of horsehair. The resonating cavity is usually covered with goat leather....
- Jew's harpJew's harpThe Jew's harp, jaw harp, mouth harp, Ozark harp, trump or juice harp, is thought to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world; a musician apparently playing it can be seen in a Chinese drawing from the 4th century BC...
The contemporary situation: Revival
The current situation could be described as the effort to rediscover the traditional music as it had been practiced before the heavy influence of European musical styles. Although the quality of the performances and the striving for authenticity cannot be ignored, it is for methodological reasons important to remember that the contemporary musicians performing among traditional folk music are all well trained professionals (Rauchan Orazbaeva, Ramazan Stamgazi).Another very challenging aspect arises from the young composers generation, and the rock and jazz musicians, as they aim to incorporate their traditional heritage into the music they learned from the western cultures, thus forming a new stage of "ethnic contemporary classics", respectively ethnic rock or jazz music that sounds distinctly Kazakh. For the classical sector outstanding: Aqtoty Raimkulova, for jazz: "Magic of Nomads", Rock: Roksonaki, URKER, Ulytau.
External links
- From Folklore to Soviet National Culture - The Process of Formation of "Kazak National Music" (1920-1942) (Slavic Research Center,Hokkaido University.)