Kazakhstan

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Dombra Music Of Kazakhstan album was released Aug 11, 1995 on the World Music Library label. It was recorded at AOI Studio, Tokyo, June 12, 1991. It features tracks by Aitzhan Toktaganov – dombra instrumentals; Kapash Kulysheva – dombra & vocals, & Kairat Baibosynov – mouth or jew's harp.

Toktaganov’s instrumental numbers are the most melodic here, as he relies solely on his dombra for the moods & emotions. Kapash Kulysheva (Қапаш Құлышева) is a Kazakh folk singer, a soloist of the ensemble Gulder & Honored Artist of Kazakh Republic.

 

Her playing is more faster paced but combined with her natural singing voice have a great depth of their own.

Baibasynov’s finale tune is a traditional Kazakhstan folk tune. His jew’s harp playing seem almost synthesizer-like in quality…phenomenal playing. All the songs here are first rate.

Various - Dombra Music of Kazakhstan, World Music Library KICC 5199, 1995. 

Aksak Kulan

Shubar Kyuik

Konyr Kaz

Sary Ozen

Sekirtpe

Kara Zhorga

Abyl

Kosbasar

Sary Zhailau

Balzhan

Konyr - Aitzhan Toktaganov

Sulu Kokshe

Bizdin Zhakta

Apitok

Shymyr

Dunie-Au

Zamandas

Gul'deraiym - Kapash Kulysheva

Shankobyz Tune - Kairat Baibosynov

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So here’s the theme here. Dombra or Dombyra is the traditional Kazakhstani version of the lute that I have been encountering across the Middle Eastern landscape, so I am posting different interpretations of what can be done with the instrument. The first post was the traditional sounds of the dombra. This post is a modernized take on the Kazakh rural balladry.

Mamer is an ethnic Kazakh living in Xinjiang in the west of China. He once had a brief flirtation with world music fame when his alt-country group IZ drew the attention of former BBC broadcaster Andy Kershaw. This release, Eagle,  is a gentle & intriguing album blowing on the winds through the grasslands of central Asia. While centered around acoustic guitar & the dombra, the album is full of mild, undulating tunes bathed in a tastefully-configured arrangement of subtle studio effects, traditional instruments (jew's harp, ghijek, & kobuz fiddles) & a judiciously applied electric guitar. Mamer possesses a deep, even bass voice that is often double-tracked on these bucolic Kazakhstan tunes.

Highlights include “Celebration”, a dombra/banjo duet with Bela Fleck, & “Proverbs”, with a sonorous display of throat-singing by Hanggai's Ilchi. Best of all are the intertwining guitar & dombra with squawking jew's harp on the title track, & “Blackbird”, a haunting Kazakh folk sing-along with a hypnotizing melody that feels like it's been around forever.

 Mamer – Eagle, Real World, 2009. 

 Tracklist -

Eagle
Iligai
Proverbs
Celebration
Man
Kargashai
Flute Song
Mountain Wind
Blackbird
Where are You Going
Mountain Wind (Hector Zazou mix)

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Ulytau (Ұлытау), literally meaning ‘the great mountain’, is a popular Turkic neo-pagan instrumental folk metal trio from Kazakhstan. Erjan (or Yerzhan) Alimbetov on dombyra, Maxim Kichigin on guitar, & Nurgaisha Sadvakasova on violin are the core members. They have a tight group of friends as session & live-show additions to the basic trio.

Their music combines the classical sound of the violin, the Western sound of the electric guitar with the traditional sound of the two stringed dombyra, an ancient instrument from their country.

On Jumyr-Kylysh, Ulytau are: Maxim Kichigin – guitar; Erjan Alimbetov – dombyra; Roman Adonin – keyboards; Nurgaisha Sadvakasova – violin; Evgeny Sizov – bass; & Igor Djavad-Zade – drums.

 Ulytau ‎– Jumyr-Kylysh, ABK ABK006, 2006. 

Tracklist –

Adai

Winter (Four Seasons)

Kurishiler

Jumyr-Kylysh

Toccata & Fuge

Ata Tolgauy

Turkish March

Yapyr-Ai (folk song)

Teriskakpai

Kokil

Enjoy,

NØ