Kurmangazy Orchestre, 90 Years of History.

The main goal of academician Akhmet Zhubanov was to raise the musical level of dombra players, who amazed many with their natural talent in the early stages of the orchestra's formation, and to bring them to academic status. At that time, with the participation of many dombra players, many of the family heritage of Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly, Dauletkerey, Dina Nurpeisova were recorded in the orchestra, and creative work was carried out in the scientific direction. The initial repertoire of the artistic group, formed by talented artists from among the people, was replenished with the heritage of folk songs and dances preserved in the memory of the people. Each performer had his own unique style and skill in playing his instrument. The talent of the steppe dombra player Uakapa Kabigozhin was demonstrated in the performance of Kurmangazy's kuys "Saryarka", "Balbyraun", "Serper", Naushi Bokeikhanov - Kurmangazy's kuys "Kobikshashkan" and Dauletkerey - "Kosalka", "Topan", Kali Jantileuov - Kurmangazy's kuys "Adai". The repertoire of the first professional artistic group included the kuys "Kairan sheshem", "Akbakay". The first concert program of the orchestra included the kuys "Adai", "Balbyraun", "Serper" of Kurmangazy, the kuys "Kosalka", "Kyz akzheleun" of Dauletkerey, as well as the folk songs "Tolkyn", "Kyzyl bidai". As a result of the creative upsurge of the orchestra, the Kazakh State Philharmonic named after Zhambyl was established in 1935. That year, the orchestra made its first tour in its history in Shymkent, former Guryev and current Mangistau regions. During the tour, the orchestra collected a collection of folk melodies. Quite often, the kyuis of Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly gave a special impetus to the orchestra's repertoire. In 1936, the orchestra took part in the 10-day Decade of Kazakh Art and Culture, which took place in Moscow. This was a new historical turning point in the cultural life of the Kazakh people. During the decade, the operas "Kyz Zhibek" and "Zhalbyr" were staged. A national dance was performed. The decade ended with a concert of the orchestra, created on the basis of national instruments. Under the direction of the chief conductor and artistic director of the orchestra Akhmet Zhubanov, Kurmangazy's kuis "Adai", "Serper", "Balbyraun", "Kobykshashkan" were performed. This decade gave a special impetus to the new orchestra. The creative path of the orchestra has developed widely.

Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly was born in 1818. Kuyushi was fond of art since childhood. It was the common people who honed the talent of kuiti and raised their art to the highest level. He became famous thanks to his teacher Uzak, traveled around the country, participating in dombra competitions, and became a famous kuyshi. Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly conveyed the sorrows, needs and grief of the people through his poetry. Kurmangazy's wonderful songs inspired and strengthened the people. One of the earliest works of the composer - kuyu "Kishkene" ("Little Song") - is dedicated to the leader of the peasant uprising Isatay and glorifies the heroism of the brave man who led the country. While the kuis "Balbyraun" and "Kairan sheshem" express a person's personal mood, the kuis "Akbakai", "Kyobik shashkan", "Aksak kiik" and "Tyurmeden kashkan" are filled with the noble dream of the people thirsting for freedom. The style of "Adai" conveys the power of the people's struggle, the clatter of horses galloping across the endless steppe. The rich musical heritage of Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly brought glory to the national musical art throughout the world. In 1944, on the eve of the orchestra's decade, by a special resolution of the Supreme Council of the Kazakh SSR, the musical group was named after the classic of national musical art Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly. Each piece by Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly is like a talisman of the national orchestra. Today, the kui "Saryarka" kuychi has become the orchestra's calling card. The conclusion of each concert program of the National Orchestra with the Saryarka Kuyu has become an unbreakable tradition in the history of the orchestra.

A., who organized and founded the National Orchestra. L., who continued Zhubanov's apprenticeship and led the orchestra for many years, Khamidi, L. Shargorodsky, N. Tlendiev, F. Mansurov, Sh. Talented conductors and artistic directors such as Aubakirov worked tirelessly to develop the orchestra's creative potential. Among these giants was Shamgon Sagaddinovich Kazhygaliev, People's Artist of the USSR and Kazakhstan, who devoted 42 years of his life to the orchestra and brought his team to the forefront of world culture. He also paid great attention to the composition of the instruments used in the orchestra, introducing musical works of domestic and foreign peoples into the orchestra's program. This is due to the fact that the orchestra's program includes Kurmangazy's Saryarka, Turkesh's Kobik Shaskhan, Konilashar, Brahms' Hungarian Dance, N. Tlendiev's Makhambet, Brusilovsky's E. G.'s Fan of Jesus, etc. The performance of such energetic and powerful pieces required the use of classical instruments. For this purpose, in 1950-51, for the first time in the orchestra's history, Sh. Kazhygaliev manufactured more than 50 instruments in a Moscow instrument workshop and added them to the orchestra. Over the years, the orchestra performed abroad: in Czechoslovakia, Portugal, Poland, France, Moscow, China, Korea, etc. For its great services in promoting folk music and performing activities abroad, in 1978 the orchestra was awarded the high title of "Academic" for the first time and was presented with the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

The first years of independence marked the beginning of a new creative period for the orchestra. Erkebulan Musrep was appointed the head of the orchestra. In 1992, by order of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the talented kuish player, composer, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Aitkali Zhaimov was appointed artistic director and chief conductor of the orchestra. Aitkali Zhaimov continued and developed the rich creative continuity that began with Akhmet Zhubanov. Aitkali Zhaimov, who gave impetus to the orchestra's creativity in a new direction, enriched the ensemble's repertoire with new works and began work on introducing new musical instruments into the orchestra. In order to improve the level of high artistic performance skills, the orchestra has been organizing musicians' competitions since 1992. The professional musicians who served in the orchestra in the first years of independence were Tuyak Shamelov, Kuanysh Azhimurat, Kundyz Kalambaeva, Koshkarbek Tasbergenov, Gaini Boltaeva, Roza Koishieva, Batyr Temiraliev, Gulnar Adilova, Leila Mazova, Gulnar Kabasheva, Erbolat Ergaliyev, Utepbergen Khamzin, Nurlybai Sultanov, Akylzhan Kulmetov, Esdaulet Isametov, Leila Shonova, Temir Tikishev and Kabdolla Mukanov who brought the orchestra to a new level. The next conductor of the orchestra, Zhalgasbek Begendikov, is a passionate artist with a high level of original creativity, who enriched the orchestra's repertoire with new works.

On December 20, 2020, in accordance with Article 21, paragraph 1 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Culture" dated December 15, 2006, "According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh State Academic Folk Instrument Orchestra named after Kurmangazy" of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan has the status of "National". This is a worthy honor bestowed on the orchestra for its immeasurable work in appreciating national art and instilling it in the minds of future generations. Today, the chief conductor of the national orchestra is the laureate of the youth award "Daryn", passionate and energetic Abylay Tilepbergen. Abylay Tilepbergen is a talented person who presents the brown sound of the Kazakh black dombra to the world at a very high level at many republican and international competitions. The young conductor boldly introduced new compositions into the orchestra's program, receiving good attention and great favor from the enthusiastic audience. A special place is occupied by the conductor of the national orchestra, a cultural figure of Kazakhstan, a talented processor Zheksen Aysyn. Each piece performed under the direction of the conductor pleases the audience with its style. The orchestra employs more than 80 professional music specialists with higher musical education, cultural figures of the Republic of Kazakhstan working for the benefit of the development of the country's culture, the best in the field of culture, scholarship holders of state scholarships in the field of art and culture. The artists of the national orchestra, who master each instrument at a high level, raise the spirit of the nation and raise the prestige of culture. On the eve of its 90th anniversary, the National Orchestra, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, went on tour with a concert program "Music of Nomads", organized at the international level, to the cities of Rome. and Naples, the capital of European culture. Today, the National Orchestra presents new musical projects to art lovers. One of the large-scale projects is the "Orchestral Night" project. This project, which has become a favorite of the public, received a high level of support from our public and is becoming a traditional and original musical project of the national orchestra of our country. Also in 2022, the traditional music festival "Shertpe Kui" was organized for the first time on the basis of the Kurmangazy Orchestra, and in 2023, the national orchestra organized the "XII Republican Competition of Performers on Folk Instruments named after Kurmangazy" for the first time. These large-scale projects will be carried out in the future in order to identify young talents who glorify our traditional musical heritage in the country. The Kazakh National Instrumental Orchestra named after Kurmangazy is a pioneer of national musical art and culture, based on the Kazakh musical culture based on national instruments, and will always remain the leader of the spirituality of the nation. It is clear that the historical chronicle of the legendary Kazakh National Orchestra of Folk Instruments named after Kurmangazy will continue to pass on to future generations the centuries-old national values ​​​​of the Kazakh people.