In this podcast, we talk about the music of the Kazakh people—the legendary kuis. We tell the stories of the kuis preserved for us by previous generations. We also play them, presenting the voice and sound of the national spiritual heritage—the inner soul—of the Kazakh people. Created&Produced by Aitolkyn Kourmanova
Many Kazakh women kuishi were wonderful performers but alas, their names have been mostly lost to history. However, the career and talent of Dina Nurpeisova, a famous Kazakh composer, flourished under more modern conditions, namely those of 20th-century Soviet Kazakhstan. …
Nurgisa Atabayuly Tlendiev (1925-1998) is a famous Kazakh composer, national hero, musical virtuoso, founder of the ethnic orchestra group “Otrar sazy,” and veteran of the Great Patriotic War. Tlendiev’s most significant contribution to Kazakh music was that he made an ancient Kazakh musical…
Tattimbet Kazangapuly is a cult Kazakh kuishi. It was said that he used his dombra as a psychotherapeutic tool—with the help of soulful music, he could bring the listener out of severe depression. And sometimes, he played so fervently that…
The three-string dombyra is a variation on the classic two-string dombyra. It was especially popular in the Chingistau kui tradition, which developed in the creative works of Abai Kunanbayev and his followers. Today, we will play a kui Tolgau by…
This episode is about shankobyz, one of the most ancient Kazakh musical instruments. It has a distinctive sound associated with antiquity—perhaps because similar instruments vibrated by breath can be found in the musical culture of many other nations. We will…
Ykhlas Dukenuly (1843-1916) is the founder of the Kazakh classical kui tradition on kylkobyz. We will play three of his most famous kuis: Shynyrau, Airayktyn ashy, and Kambar Batyr. Created&Produced by Aitolkyn Kourmanova
This episode is about Dauletkerey, “ancestor of the tore kui,” who left beautiful melodic kuis, forming his own individual school. We will play four of his most famous kuis: Zhiger, Korkem Hanym, Korugly, and Angshylyq. This podcast is based on…
This episode is about Kurmangazy, one of the greatest kuishi, Kazakh folk musician and composer, who had a great influence on the development of Kazakh musical culture. We will play four of his most famous kuis: Saryarka, Eski Bulbul, Serper,…
This episode is about kuis that are played on the dombyra. Dombyra is the most popular Kazakh musical instrument. We will play the most popular dombyra kui – Adai This podcast is based on the anthology Ancient Motifs of the…
This episode is about kuis that are played on kobyz, a string instrument, spread among Kazakhs, Karakalpaks, Bashkirs, and Tatars. We will play two kobyz kuis – Munlyk – Zarlyk and Akku. This podcast is based on the anthology Ancient…