Komuz

The komuz (Kyrgyz: комуз IPA2|koˈmuz), is an ancient fretless string instrument used in Kyrgyz music, closely related to other Turkic string instruments and the lute. It is the best-known national instrument and one of the better-known Kyrgyz national symbols. The komuz is generally made from a single piece of wood (usually apricot or juniper) and has three strings traditionally made out of gut, modernly made from fishing line. In the most common tunings the middle string is the highest in pitch.

An illustration of a komuz is featured on the reverse of the one-som note.

History

Despite being a unique instrument, the word komuz is cognate to the names of other instruments of Turkic peoples, including the Kazakh "kobyz" and Uzbek "qo'biz" (both bowed instruments), and the Tuvan and Sakha "xomus" (a jaw harp). The oldest known komuz-like instrument dates from the 4th century although the related Azerbaijani gopuz is believed to date back to 6000 BC following an archaeologicial discovery of clay plates depicting gopuz players.

Various myths exist about the komuz. One tells that the hunter Kambarkan was wandering in the forest when he heard a beautiful sound. He looked for the source and found the intestine of a squirrel tied between two tree branches, which he took and fashioned into a musical instrument. It is also said that the nightingale learned to sing by copying the komuz.

During the Soviet era the instrument fell from favour. It was derided as rudimentary and attempts were made to make it more like the Russian balalaika, notably by adding frets. After independence the komuz was again taught in music colleges, though some of the Soviet changes have remained.

Playing Style

The komuz has many different tunings, and the names of the tunings correspond with various styles of music.

[ Solos, G. "Kirghiz Instruments and Instrumental Music", "Ethnomusicology" 5(1):43]

The komuz can be used either as accompaniment or as a lead instrument, and is used in a wide variety of musical styles, including Aytysh, recitation of the Manas epic, and other traditional and modern styles. It may be strummed or plucked, and is generally played seated and held horizontally. Virtuosos frequently play the komuz in a variety of different positions, however, such as over their shoulder, between their knees, or upside down. One piece ("mash botoy") consists of a simple tune repeated many times, each with a new stroke, as a test of the performer’s skill and creativity. A good komuz artist thus commands a high level of virtuosic skill on a seemingly primitive instrument.

Agach Komus

In Dagestan (a Russian republic between Chechnya and the Caspian Sea, just east of Georgia in the Caucasus) probably exist a special instrument, which is mentioned in both the Vertkov's Atlas SSSR, and in Buchner's book. It is called agach komus, or temur by the Avar people.

It seems a kind of slender guitar with 3 strings, with a body (carved from one block of wood) shaped like a spade and fitted with a trident-like spike at the lower end.

Media

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc6qSGn307M Video of a komuz player]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=kDCSGfvrEqo A home performance of a traditional Kyrgyz song, played on the komuz]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=6S_vr2hNpMo Salamat Sadyqova performing Alymqan on the komuz]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lc6qSGn307M A komuz player demonstrating the versatility of the komuz]

References

*http://www.turkishmusicportal.org/instrument.php?id=7&cat=1
*http://www.svetlanasbrides.com/kyrgyzstan/culture/music.htm
*http://www.kyrgyzmusic.com/
*http://www.silkpress.com/archive/discovery/kg_summer2005/music.shtml
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nomad The BBC Musical Nomad] A travelogue site with extensive insights and recordings of Krygyz, Kazak and Uzbek music.

ee also

*Music of Central Asia
*Bağlama
*Saz
*Lute
*Dutar
*Dombra
*Kobyz played with a bow
*Pandura