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Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright Manage No EE00001331 Country Kazakhstan ICH Domain Performing Arts Social practices, rituals, festive events Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe Traditional craft skills Address The art of dombra playing is well-known and presented country-wide. It is a real people skills and way of one's expression. Year of Designation 2019
| Description | The Dombra is a musical two-stringed instrument, which occupies a special place in Kazakhs’ hearts. The National Dombyra Day has been included in the list of national holidays since 2018 by the decree of the President of Kazakhstan. This was done in in order to further consolidate society around the idea of preserving and reviving national culture and identity. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of July. Traditional Kazakh dombra kuy (kaz 'kuy') - instrumental play performed on dombra - a traditional pear-shaped musical instrument with two strings and a long neck. The true meaning of kuy execution dates back to the sacred relationship with the Creator and the desire to establish the internal harmony of the individual. Kazakhs say 'Kuy - Tanyrdyn sybyry' ('Kuy - a whisper of Tengri'). Dombra had been hung on the wall of each nomad house (yurta) for the play before guests and home owners. Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev established National Dombra Day on June 12th, 2018. It immediately became a favorite holiday for people and was widely celebrated nationwide with music competitions and festivals. During next celebration in 2019, President Tokayev noted that this day represents the nation’s course towards spiritual modernization and putting value on Kazakh traditions. The music of the Kazakh folk instrument dombra tells the history of its people and the centuries-old chronicle of the great steppe. “The nobility and generosity of Kazakh people are represented in music and kyuis (musical compositions). The culture and art of our people do not exist without dombra. Kyuis have always elevated the national spirit,” said Tokayev. The President also thanked musicians who worked to popularize traditional Kazakh music. In years 2020-2021 people celebrated Dombra Day from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. “This day gives us a deep appreciation of our national arts. The sacred instrument brings us its melody through symphony and opera, becoming an integral part of classical art,” Minister of Culture and Sports Aktoty Raimkulova wrote on her Instagram. The Kyui-Live online contest was held by the Department of Culture, Archives and Documentation in the Akmola Region. More than 30 performers of different ages and professions took part in the competition and posted their videos on social media. All the winners received prizes and diplomas. The Kazakh people also celebrated Dombra Day in other countries. QazAlliance, the Alliance dedicated to supporting Kazakh people living abroad, launched the World Dombra Festival project, reported the alliance on its Facebook. Dombra players from 25 countries and 36 cities took part in the project and congratulated Kazakhstan on Dombra Day. |
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| Social and cultural significance | They say that dombyra accompanies Kazakhs from birth to burial and serves at days of joy and sadness, defeat and victory. Dombra is rightfully considered one of the main symbols of the Kazakh musical heritage and culture. This tool invariably unites people of different professions, religions and nationalities in Kazakhstan. You can meet him today in almost every home. Not a single event in the life of the people could do without this national musical instrument. Respect for dombra is passed down from generation to generation. So it was in the days of nomads and remains to this day. Interest in dombra, as well as its popularity, is not fading away. Today, an increasing number of young people masterfully own this instrument, which may not be good news. The art of Dombra Kuy refers to a solo composition performed on a traditional pear-shaped, long-necked, two-stringed, plucked musical instrument. The music aims to connect people to their historic roots and traditions through classical and improvised pieces. It is performed at family and community gatherings and is usually accompanied by narrated stories and legends. It plays an important role in strengthening social cohesion among Kazakh people while providing them with a sense of identity and belonging. |
| Transmission method | The musical skills are transmitted from generation to generation in families, and afterwards at musical classes or cultural centers. Art of dombra playing is transferred through the formal music education system and informal – through the families, communities and from master to student. |
| Community | Families, local art communities and municipal cultural centers. Traditions of performing dombra kuy emerged from folk environment and used to be widely popularized within Kazakh community. Direct bearers and practitioners of an element are Kuyshi (performers of Kuy), musicians who inherit and transmit tradition, perform classical kuys, improvise and create their individual pieces. Kuyshi are characterized not solely by their musical talents, but ability to express spiritual and emotional experience of past generations and eagerness to engage audience with thoughts and feelings related to each particular composition. |
Information source
Kazakhstan National Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage
Materials related to
Photos
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PI00002451
National Dombra Day 2019 celebration in Astana
The National Dombra Day celebration had been widely spread in the country. A lot of individual artists and dombra professional and folk orchestra conducted the concert performance at central popular public places in Almaty and Nur Sultan. Thousands of dombra players played dombra kuy at the opening of concert in Nur Sultan, the capital. The Dombra is a musical two-stringed instrument, which occupies a special place in Kazakhs’ hearts. The National Dombyra Day has been included in the list of national holidays since 2018 by the decree of the President of Kazakhstan. This was done in in order to further consolidate society around the idea of preserving and reviving national culture and identity. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of July. Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev established National Dombra Day on June 12th, 2018. It immediately became a favorite holiday for people and was widely celebrated nationwide with music competitions and festivals.
Kazakhstan 2019 -
PI00002452
National Dombra Day 2019 celebration in Astana
Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, with the participants to the National Dombra Day Presentation in Astana, Kazakhstan. The National Dombra Day celebration had been widely spread in the country. A lot of individual artists and dombra professional and folk orchestra conducted the concert performance at central popular public places in Almaty and Nur Sultan.
Kazakhstan 2018 -
PI00002453
National Dombra Day: first celebrating in Astana
Elbasy – First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev is playing the dombra kuy. The Dombra is a musical two-stringed instrument, which occupies a special place in Kazakhs’ hearts. The National Dombyra Day has been included in the list of national holidays since 2018 by the decree of the President of Kazakhstan. This was done in in order to further consolidate society around the idea of preserving and reviving national culture and identity. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of July. It immediately became a favorite holiday for people and was widely celebrated nationwide with music competitions and festivals. Dombra belongs to the main symbols of the Kazakh musical heritage and culture. This tool invariably unites people of different professions, religions and nationalities in Kazakhstan. You can meet dombra today in almost every home.
Kazakhstan 2018 -
PI00002454
National Dombra Day 2019 celebration in Astana
The National Dombra Day celebration had been widely spread in the country. A lot of individual artists and dombra professional and folk orchestra conducted the concert performance at central popular public places in Almaty and Nur Sultan. Mrs Aktoty Raimkulova, Minister of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan, also known as talented composer and musician, played dombra kuy at the opening of concert in Nur Sultan, the capital.
Kazakhstan 2019
Videos
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VI00000052
The Art of Making Traditional Kazakh Dombra
The dombra, a two-stringed plucked instrument, has played an integral part of Kazakh culture since ancient times. By performing kuy (a short solo composition) on the dombra, the nomad expressed his feelings. The only harmonic material for dombra that fully meets the traditions and rules is the tree. The tradition of hollowing out the instrument from a single piece of wood relates to mythological ideas about the sacredness and inviolability of the tree. The entire process of manufacturing dombra in ancient times took four years, and each instrument was custom made based on the player’s physique, voice, repertoire, gender, and was endowed with a special spiritual content.
00:22:04
Kazakhstan 2017 -
VI00000766
National Dombra Day: first celebrating in Almaty
The team of students and young dombra artists from various musical colleges and art communities took part in the festive events for the first National Dombra Day celebration in Almaty. The performance was leaded by the famous artists and musicians. First celebration of the National Dombra Day had been widely spread in the country. A lot of individual artists and dombra professional and folk orchestra conducted the concert performance at Arbat avenue, popular public place in Almaty. The Dombra is a musical two-stringed instrument, which occupies a special place in Kazakhs’ hearts. The National Dombyra Day has been included in the list of national holidays since 2018 by the decree of the President of Kazakhstan. This was done in in order to further consolidate society around the idea of preserving and reviving national culture and identity. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of July. Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev established National Dombra Day on June 12th, 2018. It immediately became a favorite holiday for people and was widely celebrated nationwide with music competitions and festivals. Dombra belongs to the main symbols of the Kazakh musical heritage and culture. This tool invariably unites people of different professions, religions and nationalities in Kazakhstan. You can meet dombra today in almost every home. None of events in the life of the people could happen without this national musical instrument. Respect for dombra is passed down from generation to generation. So it was in the days of nomads and remains to this day. Interest in dombra, as well as its popularity, is not fading away. Today, an increasing number of young people masterfully own this instrument.
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Kazakhstan 2018 -
VI00000765
National Dombra Day 2018 celebrating in Almaty: young artists from Kulyash Baiseitova's College
The team of young dombra artists from Kulyash Baiseitova's Musical College took part in the festive events for the first National Dombra Day celebration in Almaty. First celebration of the National Dombra Day had been widely spread in the country. A lot of individual artists and dombra professional and folk orchestra conducted the concert performance at Arbat avenue, popular public place in Almaty. The Dombra is a musical two-stringed instrument, which occupies a special place in Kazakhs’ hearts. The National Dombyra Day has been included in the list of national holidays since 2018 by the decree of the President of Kazakhstan. This was done in in order to further consolidate society around the idea of preserving and reviving national culture and identity. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of July. Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev established National Dombra Day on June 12th, 2018. It immediately became a favorite holiday for people and was widely celebrated nationwide with music competitions and festivals.
00:00:34
Kazakhstan 2018
Elements related to
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EE00001329
Aitys – the art of improvisation
Aitys is a contest centred on improvised oral poetry spoken or sung to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments – the Kazakh dombra. Two performers (akyns) compete with one other to improvise verses on topical themes in a battle of wits that alternates between humorous ripostes and penetrating philosophical reflections. During the competition, the performers sit opposite one another improvising a dialogue on topics chosen by the audience. The winner is the performer considered to have demonstrated the best musical skills, rhythm, originality, resourcefulness, wisdom and wit. The most meaningful and witty expressions often become popular sayings. The element is practiced on a variety of occasions, ranging from local festivities to nationwide events, where practitioners often use the contest to raise important social issues. Although it was traditionally performed only by men, many women now participate in Aitys and use the contest to express women’s aspirations and viewpoints. Akyns compete with each other without any preparation, minutely composing poems mutual answers to questions of concern to society. Deep philosophical reflections in the witty, bubbly manner often turn into a form of poetic ridicule and criticism. Akyns compete in their resourcefulness and originality.
Kazakhstan 2015 -
EE00002034
Terme – song and recitative genre of Kazakh folklore
Terme (kaz. 'Collect') - recitation, musical and poetic genre of folk song creation. There is an expression "terme aitu" - to sing a recitative among the people. As a poetic-melodic speech in a piece of music, terme is very popular among the people. It is like advisory/teaching saying in a form of clearly expressed recitation. They are short and uniform in the rhythm of the melody in the form of a recitative. Poems and songs, recited in this genre, is easily remember to the mass consciousness and retrieved in memory associatively.
Kazakhstan
