Kazakhstan: Kurmangazy Sagyrbaev (1818-1889)
Kurmangazy Sagyrbaev (1818-1889)
Kurmangazy Sagyrbaev (1818-1889)
- composer-kiuishi, classic of Kazakh instrumental music. Kurmangazy takes particular place in the musical culture of Kazakhstan. If you wish to hear the pulse and breath of Kazakh land, if you wish to become aware of what the free wind of the boundless steppe spaces sing, to feel the joy of swift race of the flying horses, if you wish to comprehend the power of the Kazakh people, then listen to the kiuis by Kurmangazy. His kiuis «Saryarka», «Balbyraun», «Serper», «Adai» the Kazakhs associate with the image of the Motherland.Born among common people, Kurmangazy all his life fought against iniquity of Kazakh bais, defended the common people’s rights. Persecution, unjust accusations, prison could not crush the kiuishi’s resistance. Keenly responding to the events happening around him, Kurmangazy created again sincerely the wide panorama of Kazakh people’s life. The kiuis «Saryarka», «Alatau», «Bulbuldyn kurgyry» glorify the beauty of the native land, the kiuis «Kishkentai», «Toremurat», «Adai» create the mighty images of the heroes-batyrs, «Kairan sheshem», «Kyzyl kaiyn», «Ksen ashkan» reflect the concrete events of the kiuishi’s life. The majority of Kurmangazy’s kiuis are notable for dynamic character, fast rate, large-scale forms, covering the dombra’s range. The kiuishi’s art represents the peak of the West Kazakhstani Dombra School’s development, because Kurmangazy magnificently realised in his work the heroic batyr themes, taking the dominating position in the culture of the given region. People preserved the creative work of Kurmangazy with great care, and now more than sixty kiuis are known.As tribute to the memory of this great genius, the Kazakh State Academic Folk Orchestra, Almaty State Conservatory, children’s musical schools, youth competitions are all named for Kurmangazy. See «Legends» for the story of the creation of the epic composition «Saryarka» by Kurmangazy.
- composer-kiuishi, classic of Kazakh instrumental music. Kurmangazy takes particular place in the musical culture of Kazakhstan. If you wish to hear the pulse and breath of Kazakh land, if you wish to become aware of what the free wind of the boundless steppe spaces sing, to feel the joy of swift race of the flying horses, if you wish to comprehend the power of the Kazakh people, then listen to the kiuis by Kurmangazy. His kiuis «Saryarka», «Balbyraun», «Serper», «Adai» the Kazakhs associate with the image of the Motherland.Born among common people, Kurmangazy all his life fought against iniquity of Kazakh bais, defended the common people’s rights. Persecution, unjust accusations, prison could not crush the kiuishi’s resistance. Keenly responding to the events happening around him, Kurmangazy created again sincerely the wide panorama of Kazakh people’s life. The kiuis «Saryarka», «Alatau», «Bulbuldyn kurgyry» glorify the beauty of the native land, the kiuis «Kishkentai», «Toremurat», «Adai» create the mighty images of the heroes-batyrs, «Kairan sheshem», «Kyzyl kaiyn», «Ksen ashkan» reflect the concrete events of the kiuishi’s life. The majority of Kurmangazy’s kiuis are notable for dynamic character, fast rate, large-scale forms, covering the dombra’s range. The kiuishi’s art represents the peak of the West Kazakhstani Dombra School’s development, because Kurmangazy magnificently realised in his work the heroic batyr themes, taking the dominating position in the culture of the given region. People preserved the creative work of Kurmangazy with great care, and now more than sixty kiuis are known.As tribute to the memory of this great genius, the Kazakh State Academic Folk Orchestra, Almaty State Conservatory, children’s musical schools, youth competitions are all named for Kurmangazy. See «Legends» for the story of the creation of the epic composition «Saryarka» by Kurmangazy.
