A nomadic and equestrian people, the Kyrgyz have always been deeply musical. Whether for military campaigns, family celebrations, welcoming guests, or simple evenings around a yurt, music has always accompanied the life of nomads. From this tradition, the Kyrgyz have inherited several national instruments. Crafted entirely from natural materials, these instruments are small and lightweight, easily transportable from one pasture to another. They imitate the sounds of nature: the gallop of horses, the breath of the wind, the flow of rivers.... Let's explore some of these nomadic musical instruments, which you'll be able to listen to and even play during your journey to Kyrgyzstan:

Komuz

A small three-stringed guitar, the komuz is the most widespread musical instrument in Kyrgyzstan. While it measures around 90cm, it was smaller in the past for practical reasons. The komuz is carved from local wood, such as walnut, but the finest komuz are made from apricot wood. The strings, once made from animal intestines, are now manufactured with silk or synthetic materials.

Legend has it that the komuz was invented by a young shepherd who fell in love. Unable to win over the girl, he rested beneath an apricot tree near the Issyk Kul lake and wept. It was then that he heard the beautiful sound of wind striking sheep intestines drying on the tree's branches. This inspired him to create the komuz, which he carved in the shape of a teardrop, reflecting his sorrow.

Temir Ooz Komuz

A very small metallic instrument shaped like a horseshoe, the temir ooz komuz is played in the mouth. It is by changing the shape of the mouth that the musician can produce a wide variety of sounds. This instrument was traditionally reserved for women, but everyone plays it now.

Kyl Kyak

Rarer nowadays, the Kyl Kyak is a magnificent Kyrgyz violin with the deep sound of the valleys. Smaller than the komuz, the Kyl Kyak is carved from apricot or mulberry wood and has two strings, made from horsehair. It is played while seated, like a cello.

Chopo Choor

The chopo choor is the smallest of the Kyrgyz wind instruments. Crafted from clay, this small flute has eight holes that produce a very beautiful sound, both soft, mesmerizing, and deep, much like the landscape itself.

Choor

The choor is the traditional Kyrgyz flute, used in many folk songs. It imitates the sound of wind and nature with beauty and humility. The choor has four holes and measures between 70 and 100 cm. Made nowadays with apricot wood, the choor was previously crafted from thistle or honeysuckle. It is precisely this delicate sound that makes it so beautiful. Indeed, musicians, often shepherds, had the habit of rinsing it before playing. The Kyrgyz also have a smaller flute, the "sybyzgy", measuring 45cm, whose sound is much more shrill.

Kerney

The kerney is one of the oldest Kyrgyz instruments and resembles a horn. With a strong and deep sound, it was notably used to announce battles. It is the instrument most frequently mentioned in the epic of Manas. The natural kerney is crafted with a mountain goat horn, though there is also an instrument made of copper measuring approximately 2 meters in length.

During your stay in Kyrgyzstan, you will have the opportunity to attend a folk concert. It's the ideal occasion to listen to these hypnotic sounds that reflect the Kyrgyz mountains.