Bishkek, Mar. 5, 2019. /Kabar/. Journalists from Kyrgyzstan visited the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) at the invitation of the Chinese Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic.
As part of the study tour, journalists visited one of the famous centers for the production of Uygur national musical instruments, located in the suburb of Kashgar. Since 2 000, the Chinese government has given this complex the status of China’s First Musical Instrument Manufacturing Plant.
This complex has its own museum of national instruments. It produces about 7-8 different types of instruments. It is noteworthy that national musical instruments are made by hand according to the ancient techniques. Tools such as chisels, vices, planes are used. In total, the center employs about 500 people.
Chief master of the center Rakhmanzhan Abla is already 67 years old, of which 60 years he has been engaged in producing national musical instruments and is a master in the third generation. The technology by which Rahmanzhan Abla produces musical instruments has been used for several centuries and has been passed down from generation to generation.
According to the stories of Rahmanzhan Abla, it takes 3-4 days to produce one instrument from wood, without finishing with specific details, and if the instrument needs to be finished with metal parts or inserts from animal horns, the work can take up to one month. He himself does not remember how many musical instruments he has made in his life, but he knows exactly how to make, for example, the Kyrgyz komuz.
“Yes, I also make komuzes, when ordered, basically, of course, I make Uyghur national musical instruments. But if other instruments are ordered, then I undertake to make them,” Rahmanzhan Abla said.
The master devotes most of his time to making national Uygur musical instruments, such as dutar, ravap, tambur and others, as well as their souvenir variations. About 40 students, including his own son, work as apprentices.
Wood is used to produce the dutar, the trunk is shaved and the main part is prepared, to which the string neck and finishing materials are then added. After the base is ready, it is processed, decorated and immediately tuned.
As the master admitted, he himself is not very good at playing musical instruments, but his son is quite a virtuoso playing almost all the musical instruments that are made in the center.
At the end of the tour, the center staff showed an impressive concert using their own musical instruments. National music, dances of various nations and dances with the participation of visitors left no one indifferent.
Comments
Post Comment