The opening of an exhibition took place in Kazakhstan’s capital on the eve of the National Day of Dombyra and the 160th birth anniversary of the kui composer Dina Nurpeisova. A unique collection of national instruments of the Museum of Local History in Atyrau region was presented there. Famous Kazakh musicians once held in their hands 88 out of 244 exhibits displayed there. The exposition contains great relics glorifying the power of Kazakh songs and kuis.
“The peculiarity of this exhibition is not in the number of displayed exhibits, but in their history. In 1975, dombyra was made of bone, wood and decorated with silver. As part of the year of culture, that is, in the 2000s, the museum repository was replenished with a large number of these national musical instruments,” said Rashida Kharipova, Director of the Museum of Local History in Atyrau region.
Among the exhibits are the original instrument of Dina Nurpeisova, a copy of dombyra of Abai, as well as batyr and poet Makhambet. The exhibition also displays musical instruments of the People’s Artists of the USSR Nurgisa Tlendiyev, Karshyga Akhmediyarov, Ryspai Gabdiyev, Azidolla Yeskaliyev, Honored Artists of the country Mekes Arbitov and Aigul Ulkenbayeva.
“I hold a unique dombyra in my hands. This is the dombyra of Asima Izmukhambetova’s mother. She played more than 50 kuis on it, which were previously unknown, at the state competition in Almaty. Among them are works by Kurmangazy and others,” Kharipova added.
“This is the dombyra of the great poet and writer Khamit Yergaliyev, who composed the first sonnets on the Kazakh land. The main feature of dombyra is its structure. One eyelet is at the back, and the second is near. The maker of the instrument was a Turkmen master. Khamit Yergaliev performed the works of Kurmangazy on this dombra in front of a large audience,” noted guide Aidana Mursalimova.
Honored Figure of Kazakhstan Amanzhol Altayev donated his dombyra to the museum fund in 2007. Art critics who perfectly understand the properties of the sacred instrument know that this is an excellent tool for educating young people and instilling in them the spirit of patriotism.
“We are the people who opened their souls through music, talked about sorrows. This national instrument has a long history. Many kuis performed on the dombyra fully convey the great wealth of our people, the heritage of our ancestors,” said Amanzhol Altayev, Honored Figure of Kazakhstan.
In Kazakhstan, the National Day of Dombyra is celebrated every year throughout the country on the first Sunday of July. This is a tribute to the most revered national instrument, the pearl of the Kazakh cultural heritage. According to the employees of the museum of local history of Atyrau region, the exhibition is aimed at popularizing everyone’s favorite instrument dombyra. Therefore, the precious collection will be exhibited soon in a park that opened in Turkey in honor of Dina Nurpeisova.
Translation by Saniya Sakenova
Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova
