The origin of the komuz. Kambarkan – the head of all kuus

A Grade 5 topic in Music: “Term I. The transforming power of music. The origin of the komuz. Kambarkan – the head of all kuus” (pp. 6–10, A. M. Muratova, K. J. Artykov). The komuz is the plucked string instrument of the Kyrgyz people. The Kyrgyz tell two legends about the origin of the komuz, and both are linked to hunting: one tells how the hunter Kambar invented the komuz, and the other says the komuz came from drawing a bow. Kuu is the name of Kyrgyz instrumental music. At the head of the komuz kuus stand the “Kambarkan” pieces; the kambarkan is considered the oldest kuu. For example, K. Orozov played four kambarkans. The main features of the “kambarkan” are a slow tempo, a loose tuning (bosh tolgoo) and a deep meaning of the melody. The parts of the komuz are the head, neck, nut, body, soundboard, bridge, three pegs, three strings and the sound hole.