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Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright Manage No EE00000374 Country Kyrgyzstan ICH Domain Performing Arts Social practices, rituals, festive events Traditional craft skills Address All regions of Kyrgyzstan Year of Designation 2008

Description | Folk tuned melodies (kuu) of different sizes are classical musical heritage of the Kyrgyz, which are performed on national musical instruments. Each of them is exceptional and unique in its own way. The main musical instrument used in solo performance of kuu is a three-stringed plucked instrument – komuz. Well-known folk tuned melodies as Kambarkan, Botoi, Kerbez, Tolgoo and Kairyk have become the basis for emergence of separate genres of kuu and have had their own impact on development of the Kyrgyz instrumental music as a whole. Performance of each kuu is distinguished by the diversity of methods of artistic expressiveness and playing technique. Kuu are divided into program and non- program musical pieces. The bases of program folk tunes are folk life, epical, and historical plots, historical geneses of which are presented before each kuu performance. Non-program kuu reflect certain life circumstances and have their own titles. They reflect deep human experiences about the meaning of life, images of the human. In general, kuu have laid the foundations for development of the Kyrgyz instrumental music. The Kyrgyz instrumental music performed by folklore groups is very popular now. No cultural event is organized without it today, whether it is a festive or a national event. Depending on the complexity of compositions, sounds of typical musical instruments of the Kyrgyz such as komuz, kyl kiyak, temir komuz, chopo-choor, dobulbas and sybyzgy are present in the instrumental music. National musical instruments of the Kyrgyz can be functionally divided into instruments bearing artistic and esthetic function, instruments bearing application purpose, and the ritual ones that combine the first two features. Along with concert and orchestral practice, some instruments of applied and ritual character continue to be used in ceremonial songs up today. |
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Social and cultural significance | Historically, instrumental music has always played an important role in Kyrgyz culture and folk art. It is the most developed, sophisticated in form and multifaceted in content expression of the musicality of the people. It plays a much greater role than the vocal genre in history, everyday life and in the entire artistic heritage. The significant role of musical instruments in the life of Kyrgyz people is evidenced by their repeated mentions in the trilogy "Manas. Semetey. Seitek". Traditional musical instruments and instrumental music kuu were closely connected with the Kyrgyz people’s everyday life, rituals, the whole complex of the nomadic lifestyle. They show all aspects of Kyrgyz people’s life: social life, love lyrics, economic relations, moral and ethical problems, cultural and artistic values. In the minds of the people, musical instruments are a kind of material symbols of their spiritual and aesthetic attitude to the world around them. It is no coincidence that musical instruments, such as komuz, were revered as national relics and often placed in the most honourable place in a yurt or house. To this day, instrumental music is much loved and appreciated by wide range of listeners. Just like in the past, komuz is a very popular, beloved musical instrument that can be heard at holidays, on concerts and at home, giving people the joy of interacting with alluring music. |
Transmission method | Traditionally, instrumental music kuu was transmitted orally from a master (ustat) to a student (shakirt) or in the home environment. Now this element is transmitted mainly in educational institutions of the cultural system, music centres, schools and studios. The Kyrgyz National Conservatory is the leading institution of higher education for the training of instrumental musicians. The preservation and transmission of knowledge of traditional instrumental music kuu is also carried out in schools, colleges, studios, music centres. |
Community | Community of “komuzchu”, “akyns”, musician’s instrumentalists. |
Keyword
Information source
National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO
https://en.unesco.org/countries/kyrgyzstan/informationMaterials related to
Photos
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PI00001122
Children learning to play komuz
Kyrgyzstan -
PI00001121
Komuz - main musical instrument used in solo performance of _kuu_ tune melodies
Kyrgyzstan -
PI00001120
Nurak Abdyrahmanov famous kyrgyz komuzchu is tuning komuz
Kyrgyzstan -
PI00001119
Nurak Abdyrahmanov famous kyrgyz komuzchu during performance
Kyrgyzstan
Videos
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VI00000221
Kyrgyzstan Komuz&Kalpak Dignifies the Man (Highlight)
The film is dedicated to the Kyrgyz folk instrument komuz. An expert on making and playing komuz shares an komuz origin story. The film shows the interconnectedness between the models and melodies of komuz. Outstanding komuz makers and players as well as komuz beginners present some classical komuz melodies in the film. This film is dedicated to kalpak—a traditional male felt hat. Knowledgeable people (a teacher, a journalist, an activist, and craftswomen) talk about the social functions and spiritual meanings behind kalpak. The film shows traditional and modern methods of making kalpak.
0:52
Kyrgyzstan 2017 -
VI00000051
Models and Melodies of Komuz
The film is dedicated to the Kyrgyz folk instrument komuz. An expert on making and playing komuz shares an komuz origin story. The film shows the interconnectedness between the models and melodies of komuz. Outstanding komuz makers and players as well as komuz beginners present some classical komuz melodies in the film.
00:25:51
Kyrgyzstan 2017