Rizabek Toleubek, a resident of the North Kazakhstan region, works on popularizing Kazakh musical instruments. He opened a workshop for the production of dombyras. According to Toleubek, he became interested in this craft as a child. Each dombyra has its own sound. As the craftsman says, an important factor here is what kind of wood musical instruments are made of: apple trees, willows, or birches.
“Dombyra made of birch sounds beautiful. I first started working with this tree when I moved to the north of the country. I used to make musical instruments from apple trees, apricot trees, and willows. Now I work with birch,” the craftsman said.
Toleubek holds a degree in music. He tries to instill the love for art in his children too. He has two daughters, who are now also learning to play the dombyra.
“Dad made this dombyra especially for me. I like this musical instrument. I’ve been learning to play it since I was 10, but I only know two kui songs so far. One is called “Bi,” and the other “Kenes” said Toleubek’s daughter Sungyla.
Toleubek not only makes musical instruments, but also writes kui songs himself. He admits that he is willing to share his experience with young people so that they know firsthand what traditional art is.
Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova
Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova
