Great Steppe Melodies from Kazakh Kazakh State String Quartet

• Korkyt Ata (9th Century):
• 1Konur04:09
• 2Konur (Arr. A. Kazakbayev for 3 Kobuz & String Quartet)05:38
• Zheldibayev Abdimomyn (b.1934):
• 3Yerke Sylkym02:56
• 4Yerke Sylkym (Arr. G. Uzembayeva for String Quartet)03:13
• Mombekov Tolegen (1918 - 1997):
• 5Saltanat04:21
• 6Saltanat (Arr. K. Shildebayev for String Quartet)05:11
• Tattimbet Qazangapuly (1815 - 1862):
• 7Kos Basar01:59
• 8Kos Basar (Arr. A. Zhaiym for String Quartet)02:58
• Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly (1823 - 1896):
• 9Adai01:42
• 10Adai (Arr. G. Uzembayeva for String Quartet)01:48
• Suyinbay Aronuly (1812 - 1898):
• 11Zhaksu men Zhaman Adamnyn Kasiety04:09
• 12Zhaksu men Zhaman Adamnyn Kasiety (Arr. G. Uzembayeva for Voice, Dombra & String Quartet)03:59
• Alkyat Kazakbayev (b. 1972):
• 13Ablaikhan Zhorygy05:30
• Total Runtime47:33

Info for Great Steppe Melodies from Kazakh

This new release leads the listener to music worlds little known in the West: the steppes of today's Republic of Kazakhstan. If Divox's previous 'sister production' featured exclusively works for string quartet (""Kazakh Classical Music), the present works now comprise a historical period from the 9th to the 19th century and to the present day, with two typical folk instruments, the 'Kobuz' and the 'Dombra' brought into focus. The Kobuz is a 2-stringed instrument, which, like a viola da gamba, is positioned between the legs for playing; the Dombra, on the other hand, is a 2-string long-necked lute plucked in a similar way as a guitar. To provide an acoustic impression, an original arrangement for the same instrument with string quartet is compared with each original composition on this album.

Alkyat Kazakbayev, kobyz
Aizat Yusupdzhanova, dombra
Zhanar Zhusupova, kobyz
Madina Omarova, kobyz
Nuraly Temirbekov, percussion
Elikbay Isa, vocals, dombra
Kazakh State String Quartet

The Kazakh State String Quartet
When back in 1988 the teacher of the Republican school for gifted children named after A. Zhubanova, Dina Churenova, offered to four friends to play in a quartet, she even could not imagine that this team will grow into the most outstanding chamber ensemble of Kazakhstan. Assiduous rehearsals have started, they followed by first successes and fateful meeting. During education at the Conservatory, the team went to their first performances at the international level. Mrs. Gaziza Zhubanova took care of talented team since its school time, often came to the concerts and once sad to the director of the philharmonic, Ms. Mukhtar Uteuov, “Dear Mukhtar, keep this team structure. You will see, these guys will show the world the high level of our art.” Today there is no wonder that the team is named after this great woman. The quartet received the state status, which is a great responsibility. An improvement is a natural process that led them to the competition of string quartets named after Shostakovich, where they were noticed by the titanium of quartet art, Valentin Berlinskiy. Kazakhstan Embassy asked him to give a master class. Having listened the game of Kazakhstanis, he said, «Guys, I see that your eyes are burning. You are not just fans of quartet music but fanatics. From that day you can always call me, if I am in Moscow, I will be giving free lessons for you.» Until the end of his life he took a patronage over «his Kazakhs,» as he put it. With such great master in alliance, the quartet began its triumphal march around the world. It was not easy to get a course from the member of “Hagen” quartet, Rainer Schmidt, which today is considered as one of the top quartets in the world. Rainer suggested them to go through the qualifying competition, «Come and take part in the competition, if you deserve, I’ll take you, if there will be musicians better than you, then do not be offended.» The quartet said, “Give us a chance and we’ll get this place.” Gaining experience from the best schools in the world GSK quartet find their unique sound that strikes the hearts of true lovers of high quality quartet music.

Booklet for Great Steppe Melodies from Kazakh