National Culture Reflections

"Dombra", artwork,  М.Sadybekov

The festivals in Southern Kazahstan are celebrated in very hilarious and playful atmosphere. During the most important ones you can watch a competition (aitys) of akyns (bards playing dombra). Akyns hold aitys, that is one of the ancient traditions of the verbal impromptu competitions among bards. All participating akyns have to be very quick-witted to compete with their rivals since impromptu is the most important requirement ot aitys. The faster akyn gives a smart and humorous reply to the statements of his rival, the abler he is thought to be by the listening audience and jury. 

Kazakh people ate true music admirers. There are slightly above 50 kinds of national musical instruments known. They were manufactured of woods, cane, curried skin, horns of aminals, as well as horsehair.

"Dombra and Kobyz Players", artwork Ye.Makhambetov

The most popular musical instrument among Kazakhs is dombra, the two-stringed long necked lute. Any national orchestra\'s performance is unthinkable without dombra. Kobyz and Sybyzggi are no less popular with the Kazakh musicians. Kobyz is a bowed musical instrument played like a cello. Sybyzggi is a lute-like high-pitched woodwind instrument.