User:GaiJin/Kazakh dombyra

The Kazakh Dombyra

Kazakh dombyra, front and side view.
Classification	String instrument (Strummed string instrument)
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	321.321 (Composite chordophone)
Related instruments
Bowed and plucked string instruments

The Kazakh dombyra (Template:Lang-kz) is a fretted national musical instrument of Kazakhs that typically has two strings. The instrument has a sophisticated tradition with five music schools and thousands of compositions. The dombyra was first used in the epic tradition to accompany songs and later contributed to the formation of the genre of instrumental music, kuy (Template:Lang-kz).

History

Approx. 6000-year-old petroglyph discovered in Kazakhstan, Almaty region, Maitobe summer camp depicting dancers with musical instrument

In 1986, in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan, in the Maitobe summer camp (Template:Lang-kk), professor Sabetqazy Aqataev (Template:Lang-kk) with the help of ethnographer Jağda Babylyqūly discovered a petroglyph depicting a musical instrument and four dancing people in various poses. According to the archaeologist Kemel Aqyshev, this figure comes from the Neolithic period (around 4000 BC). The rock fragment depicting this drawing is currently located in the The Ykhlas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The instrument depicted on the petroglyph has a lot of resemblence to the shape of the dombyra. Thus, one can conclude that the prototype of the current dombyra was used approximately 6,000 years ago , rendering dombyra as one of the first plucked instruments.

Types

Currently, there are more than 20 types of dombyra. Among them are: Dombyra for singing and kuys

• Torsyk (also, traditional leather flask used for carrying liquids with rounded body) - unlike the standard dombyra, which typically has a more elongated body, the torsyk has a more rounded body. This shape gives it a distinct acoustic quality, often producing a deeper, more resonant sound compared to other types of dombyra.
• Tumar (also, amulet or talisman usually with a triangular body) - has a compact, triangular, or teardrop-shaped body, which differentiates it from the standard dombyra
• Dombyra with a wide body (two versions)
• Baldyrgan (also, a young child) - baldyrgan dombyra is designed for children or beginners, making it smaller in size and easier to handle compared to the standard dombyra.
• Balashyk (derived from BalaTemplate:Lang-kz, which means 'a child') is a small rounded type of dombyra designed for young beginners. Its overall length is 640 mm. The size of the body is 340 mm, and the length of the neck is 420 mm. The length of the palm (handhold) is 60 mm.
• Shinkildek (noun form of Shinkildeu Template:Lang-kz, which means to strum, tinkle or to produce high-pitched, light, and somewhat tinkling sound) is a simple type of dombyra with a narrow body (width - 8-10 cm, length - 45-50 cm) that produces a lighter, more delicate sound than standard dombyra. Shinkildek is usually used in ensemble settings or in performances where its delicate tonal qualities can complement other instruments.
• Asha
• Three-stringed dombyra
• Hollow-neck dombyra
• Sherter

Orchestral dombyras:

- Low-pitched (alto) - High-pitched (prima) - Sharp-pitched (secunda) - Bass dombyras (two versions)

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