In the very center of Almaty, among the noisy streets and modern buildings, there is a place where time flows differently. Here, in the shade of centuries-old trees, stands a wooden building with carved window frames — the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments. This is not just a collection of exhibits. This is the voice of the steppe, frozen in wood, strings, and leather. Here, every instrument holds the breath of centuries.
The Museum of Folk Musical Instruments in Almaty was founded in 1980 and remains the only specialized museum of musical instruments in Kazakhstan to this day. Its collection includes over 1,000 exhibits, and each of them is not just an object, but a testament to the life of nomadic peoples — their joys, sorrows, victories, and hopes.
Who is Ykhlas Dukenuly?
The full name of the museum is the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments named after Ykhlas. This name is no coincidence: Ykhlas (Yqylas) Dukenuly is one of the most significant figures in Kazakh musical culture of the 19th century.
Ykhlas Dukenuly (1843–1916) was a great Kazakh kyushi (performer and creator of kuis — instrumental pieces for the dombra), composer, and folk musician. He was born in Semirechye (Zhetysu) — the region where Almaty is now located. His life fell on a difficult period for the Kazakh people — a time of active incorporation into the Russian Empire, changing ways of life, and the loss of traditional lands.
Ykhlas was not just a musician, but a guardian of folk memory. Through his music, he conveyed the history of his people — what could not be written down could be played. Ykhlas was a virtuoso dombra player. He created his own style of performance, which was later called the "Ykhlas School." His kuis are still considered the standard of Kazakh instrumental music.
The most famous kuis of Ykhlas:
• "Kok Tobe" (Blue Hill) — a kui about native expanses, about longing for home.
• "Ablai" — dedicated to the great Khan Ablai and his times.
• "Korlan" — a lyrical kui in which deep sadness can be heard.
It is interesting that Ykhlas, like many nomads of that time, did not know musical notation. He did not write down his compositions on paper — he played them. And his students memorized the kuis by ear, passing them on. In the 1930s, already after Ykhlas`s death, part of his kuis was recorded in musical notation and thus preserved for future generations. Today, they are part of the golden fund of Kazakh music and are studied in conservatories.
What You Will See Inside the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments
Dombra — the Voice of the Steppe
The main instrument of Kazakh music is, of course, the dombra. The museum features dombras from different regions and eras: from simple ones with carved patterns to richly decorated ones with inlay. Each has its own timbre, its own history. It is said that old masters could make dombras that could "speak" — producing sounds resembling the human voice. Here you will see instruments that belonged to famous akyns — folk singers and poets.
Kobyz — the Mystical Instrument
Next to the dombra is the kobyz. A bowed instrument that Kazakhs considered sacred. The kobyz was played by shamans (baksy) during rituals. It was believed that the sound of the kobyz could expel evil spirits and open the door to the world of ancestors. The instrument was made from a single piece of wood, and the strings were made from horsehair. Some specimens in the museum have survived from the 19th century and still emanate a special, almost mystical energy.
Zhetygen — the Seven-Stringed Harp
One of the most beautiful instruments is the zhetygen. A seven-stringed harp resembling a psaltery. According to legend, the name translates as "seven strings," and each string symbolized a certain period of a person`s life. The zhetygen was played by women, accompanying their songs. Its sound — soft, shimmering — is like the whisper of the steppe.
Sybyzgy — the Instrument of the Wind
An ancient wind instrument — the sybyzgy. It was made from reeds or wood. The sound of the sybyzgy resembles the whistle of the wind in the steppe. It is said that nomads used it to transmit signals over vast distances. In the museum, you can see several examples — from simple shepherd`s pipes to richly decorated ceremonial ones.
Unique Exhibits of the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments
In addition to the main instruments, the museum houses unique specimens:
• Dauylpaz drums — huge leather drums that were used in military campaigns to boost the morale of warriors.
• Shankobyz — a metal jaw harp that Kazakhs used for meditation and personal reflection.
• Instruments from different eras — from ancient Scythian harps to modern ethnic instruments.
Hall of Kazakh Music and Traditions
The Museum of Folk Musical Instruments in Almaty is not just an exhibition. Concerts of Kazakh ethnic music are regularly held here. In a small hall, where the walls are decorated with national ornaments, you can hear live music — dombra, kobyz, zhetygen. Some musicians play so that, closing your eyes, you can imagine yourself in the steppe, under the endless sky, where the wind carries a melody from the distant past.
The Historical Building — an Architectural Monument
The building of the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments itself is an architectural monument of the 19th century. It is the former house of officers of the Cossack army. Wooden, with carved window frames and a high roof, it stands surrounded by old elms and poplars. Just taking a walk around the museum is already a pleasure: a cozy park, benches in the shade, silence broken only by birdsong. And when you enter, you are greeted by the smell of old wood.
When you leave the museum, the melody of the dombra or kobyz may continue to echo in your mind for a long time. This is no coincidence. Because Kazakh instruments are not just wood and strings. They are the memory that music was and remains the main way of preserving history for a people who lived in the steppe for centuries.
