The Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory hosted an international roundtable titled “The Musical Heritage of China’s Kazakhs and Chinese Composers.”
Musicologists, composers, researchers and performers from the two countries discussed the musical culture of Kazakhs in Xinjiang, the song and kui traditions of Altai, Tarbagatai and the Ili region, and playing techniques for the dombra and sybyzgy.
Participants also focused on the legacy of folk musicians and works by Chinese composers. A collection titled “Қанат қақты,” dedicated to the kuis of Kazakhs in Xinjiang, was presented at the meeting.
The programme included masterclasses on performing dombra kuis from Altai and Tarbagatai and on the distinctive sound of the traditional sybyzgy. The event concluded with a concert at the Yerkegali Rakhmadiyev Grand Hall.
Performers included the “Қос қоңыр” folk ensemble, a dombra ensemble, the conservatory’s student string quartet and folk-instrument orchestra, as well as invited musicians.
The concert featured traditional kuis, works from the heritage of China’s Kazakhs and compositions by Chinese composers. Kurmangazy’s kui “Сарыарқа” was the final piece.
The meeting aimed to facilitate the exchange of research and performance experience, preserve musical heritage and develop cultural cooperation between Kazakhstan and China.
