KURMANGAZY (2)

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 705.

During many centuries Kazakh music was composed through vocal and instrumental means. A melody called kyui (pieces of music played on dombra, kobyz and other folk instruments) is the most popular form of music.

Themes of kyui are as various and different as the world around us. Kyui speaks about a person's feelings and his emotions in various sit­uations.

An outstanding piace among the folk musi­cians belongs to Kurmangazy Sagyrbayev (1818-1889). He is a big name in Kazakh instrumental folk music, a great composer and dombra play­er. He was born and lived in Western Kazakh­stan. When he was 10 years old he made a dom­bra for himself and carried it everywhere. At that time he composed his first melody. At the age of 18 he became a good musician and decided to leave his native place. Thus began his independent professional activity. While trav­elling through different villages, Kurmangazy met many singers and learnt their songs and kyuis.

He competed with those who played dom­bra; he took part in many competitions. This experience sharpened his skills and enriched his talent. He didn't only play dombra, he told inter­esting stories, legends and sang songs. The name of Kurmangazy became well known: he was invited to many places. Kurmangazy was a stu­dent of a famous 19th century folk composer, Uzak.

A Folk rebellion led by Isatai Taimanov and Mukhambet Utemisov aroused Kurmangazy, and he joined it. One of his important works, «Kish-kentai», was devoted to the rebellion. The mu­sic of Kurmangazy was stimulating; he was sure of the future victory of people.

The works of Kurmangazy, «Saryarka» and «Kobik Shashkan», are big artistic pictures show­ing the people who were not afraid and who didn't change their destiny during hard times. In «Saryarka» we can hear people's voices and the voice of a land wide and boundless. «Sar­yarka» is placed at the top of Kurmangazy's creative work. Time itself speaks in it. You can feel his call for a struggle when he speaks about the horse race and sings a victory song. That's why the journalist N. Savichev wrote (after meeting Kurmangazy in September, 1868 and listening to his music), «Kurmangazy is a beau­tiful musical soul and if he had had a European education, he could have been a superstar in the world of music.»

The creative work of Kurmangazy is still alive. About 80 of his kyuis are published. Now­adays dombra players follow Kurmangazy's tradition. At music schools and colleges, the art is taught according to the principles laid down by Kurmangazy.

Ø Comprehension task. Match the sentence beginning with the correct ending:

1. He is a big name in Kazakh …

2. He was born and lived …

3. At that time he …

4. Kurmangazy met many …

5. He competed with…

6. Time itself ….

7. The creative work of Kurmangazy …

a. … speaks in it.

b. … instrumental folk music.

c. … is still alive.

d. … those who played dom­bra.

e. … in Western Kazakh­stan.

f. … singers and learnt their songs and kyuis.

g. … composed his first melody.

Ø Pronunciation task.

1. Most verbs add – ed to form the past tense which sounds [d] or [t]. Put the verbs below into the correct column:

Composed, called, lived, carried, played, sharpened, enriched, aroused, joined, placed, published.

[d]

___________

[t]

___________

2. Some verbs add –ed to form the past tense which sounds [id]. Find these verbs in the text, write them below:

[id]

___________