Tuutanbay Abdiev (born 1937) — akyn-improviser, People's Artist of the Republic (1993), member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1990). He was born in the village of Ichke-Sai, now in the Uchterek District of the Jalal-Abad Region, in a peasant family. His first singing lessons were given to him by local akyns Sarykunan and Kadyrkul.
Zamirbek Usenbaev (born 1951) — improvisational poet, People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1968), member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1990). He was born in Frunze. Zamirbek's father is the famous poet Alymkul Usenbaev, and his mother is a talented folk singer. Zamirbek began performing as a poet at the age of 16. His first independent works are the solo greeting "Salamdasuu Termesi" and a poetic duel with Toktosun Tynibekov.
Estebes Tursunaliev (born 1931) — akyn-improviser, People's Artist of the USSR (1988), People's Akyn of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan (1995), laureate of the Toktogul State Prize, member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1967). He was born in the village of Kara-Archa, now in the Manas district of the Talas region, in a peasant family. Estebes Tursunaliev's father was a good komuz player, and his mother was a кошокчу and жомокчу (lamenter and storyteller). Even as a fifth-grade
Ashyraaly Aytaliev (born 1927) is one of the contemporary professional akyns-improvisers, a People's Artist of Kyrgyzstan (1995), and a member of the Union of Writers of the Kyrgyz Republic. He was born in the village of Jediger in the Kant district of Chui region. His childhood was spent in difficult conditions during the pre-war and wartime periods. He showed an interest in singing while still a schoolboy. Aytaliev's first steps in creativity were associated with lyrical songs that
Toktosun Tynybekov (1927—1982) — an improvisational poet, kyakist, komuz player, honored artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1960), member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1953). He was born in the village of Tegene in the Jany-Jol district of the Jalal-Abad region. After finishing school, he studied at the Karaganda factory and plant vocational school. His acquaintance with Korgool Dosuiev was a turning point in his life. During a joint trip across the republic, Dosuiev shared the secrets of his
Ysmayil Boronchiev (1910—1978) — an improvisational poet, People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1958), member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1938). He was born in the village of Alchaluu, now in the Chui region, into a poor family. His songwriting began in 1929, and his first songs were dedicated to social themes: "The First Five-Year Plan" ("Birinchi беш жылдык"), "Good Collective Farm" ("Жакшы колхоз"), "Kyrgyzstan,"
Toktonaaly Shabdanbaev (1896—1978) — a poet-improviser, People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1958), member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1958). He was born in the village of Jaiylma, now in the Kant district of Chui region, into a peasant family. He began singing and playing the komuz in the 1920s. In 1936, he participated in the first All-Kyrgyz Olympiad of Folk Musical Creativity, after which the akyn was accepted as a soloist in the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic, where he worked for
Alymkul Usenbaev (1894—1963) — an improvisational poet, komuz player, People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1939), member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1938). He was born in the village of Kara-Archa in the Talas region into a poor family. At the age of 12, he became an orphan. By the age of 14, he began to sing and play the komuz, and within about ten years, he was well-known throughout Talas. Toktogul Satylganov highly valued his talent and played a crucial role in his development
Korgool Dosuev (1890—1962) — aakyn-improviser, one of the most talented students of Toktogul. He was born in the Jany-Jol district (now Toktogul district).
Osmonkul Bolebalaev (1888—1967) — improvisational poet, People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1942), member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1940).
Barpy Alykulov (1884—1949) — an improvisational poet, singer, thinker, and classic of the folk song and poetic culture, a member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1947). He was born in the village of Achi in the Suzak district of the Jalal-Abad region (now the same-named area). His father, Alykul, was well-versed in folk creativity.
Kalyk Akiev (1883—1953) — a poet-improviser, komuz player, People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1939), member of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1938). He was born in the village of Kulzhagach in the Jumgal district of the Tian Shan volost (now Naryn region). His father, Akı, was engaged in hunting and craftsmanship. Kalyk became interested in singing at an early age and was already known in the area as a poet by the age of 18.
The akyn-improviser, komuz player, and one of the best students of Toktogul, Eshmambet Bayseitov (1867—1926) was born in the village of Kyk-Kazyk, now in the Talas region. Later, poverty forced his family to move to the Ketmen-Tyubinsky district, to the relatives of his mother. He began singing at the age of 15.
The greatest representative of the akyn art of the first half of the 20th century was Toktogul Satylganov (1864—1933), who raised a whole generation of professional akyns and created his own school.
Zhenizhok Kokoев (real name Oto, 1860 — 1918) — an outstanding akyn of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, whose legacy has only begun to be seriously studied in recent years. He was born in the Sary-Kobon area, now part of the Manas district in the Talas region, to a poor family. After losing his parents at an early age, Zhenizhok was forced to leave his homeland and move to the village of Kara-Suu in the Aksy district of the Jalal-Abad region. As a teenager, he sang famous dastans such
The great akyn-thinker of the past century Arstanbek Buylashov (1840 — 1882) — akyn, komuz player, a bright representative of the artistic movement "zaman" (literally, "time, era"). He was born in the mountainous region of Syrt, now in the Jety-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region, to the younger wife of the bey Buylash. From childhood, he showed musical abilities, learning songs and tales from adults.
SEKALIEV Zhanibek Musakulovich
Urkash Mambetaliev (born 1934) is a soloist-manaschi of the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic named after Toktogul (since 1961), a member of the Union of Writers of Kyrgyzstan (1982), and a People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic (1994).
People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic Shaabay Azizov (born 1927) inherited the storytelling tradition from his father, as well as from his uncle — the famous Issyk-Kul manaschy Choyuke. He also considers his fellow countryman Sayakbay Karalaev, with whom he had close communication, as a teacher. He lives in the village of Uch-Kainar in the Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region and is actively engaged in creative activities: he sings for recordings, performs at the invitation of
Kaba Atabekov (born 1926) is one of the prominent representatives of contemporary storytelling culture and a People's Artist of Kyrgyzstan. He was born in the village of Tort-Kul in the Ton district of the Issyk-Kul region. He began singing "Manas" at the age of ten. He associates the beginning of his storytelling career with a prophetic dream in which a noble old horseman strictly instructed him to recite the epic.
Seydene Moldoke kyzy (born 1922) — an outstanding storyteller, one of the few women-manaschis. She was born in the village of Kotoromo in the Toktogul district of the Jalal-Abad region. She associates the beginning of her storytelling career with a famous prophetic dream in which the great akyn Toktogul appeared to her, followed by the hero Semetey himself. Since the mid-1950s, Seydene has been invited to Frunze to participate in competitions and reviews of folk art and for recording.
Jusup Mamai (born 1918) — the largest representative of the art of akyns and manaschy abroad, a storyteller-writer. He was born in the village of Merkech in the Kyrgyz Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Until 1959, he worked as a teacher, then began to study and narrate the epic.
Mambet Chokmorov (1896—1973) is one of the greatest storytellers of the eastern region. According to legend, he was also initiated into the manaschy by Manas himself, who appeared to him in a prophetic dream.
Moldobasan Musulmankulov (1883—1961), a talented storyteller, akyn, komuz player, and People's Artist of Kyrgyzstan (1935), was born in the village of Terek, now in the Ak-Talinsky district of Naryn region. The first influence on Musulmankulov's storytelling creativity was his brother Kaligul. With his help, Musulmankulov began to master playing the komuz and a large repertoire of folk songs.
Togolok Moldo (real name — Bayymbet Abdrakhmanov, 1860—1942) — an outstanding manaschi and akyn-writer.
The storytelling art of Sayakbay Karalaev (1894—1972), by unanimous recognition of his contemporaries, was the pinnacle of the evolution of national epic culture. This famous manaschy of our century possessed a truly titanic ability for improvisation and a powerful performing temperament. His contemporaries rightfully called him the "great rhapsodist" (M. Auezov), "Homer of the 20th century" (Ch. Aitmatov).
Sagymbay Orozbakov (1867—1930) was born in the village of Kabyrga, located on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, in a family of a musician-surnaychi. His father, Orozbak, served the khan of Issyk-Kul, Ormon. At the age of nine, Sagymbay began to learn Arabic script under the guidance of an Uzbek mullah, as well as to sing and compose. He became fascinated with the epic "Manas" at the age of fifteen after hearing performances by the famous manaschy of that time, Chonbasha, Tynybek
NATALIA VASILIEVNA SARYMSAKOVA
SARIMSAKOV Belek Adykanovich
Sharshen Termechikov (1896—1942) — a popular comic-satirist, honored artist of the Kyrgyz SSR, belonged simultaneously to the worlds of theater and music. He was born in the village of Konok, now in the Sokuluk district of the Chuy region. In his youth, in the city of Pishpek, he met the famous kuudul Adamkaly, from whom he learned the basics of this unique art. Soon, while traveling through the ails, Sharshen was already generously sharing it with his listeners. Since 1931, he lived and
Salamat Sadakova (born 1956) is one of the contemporary professional folk singers, a People's Artist of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan (1995), and a talented interpreter of lyrical repertoire. She was born in the Batken region of the Osh province. In the folk theater of the Kara-Buura district in the Talas region, she played several roles and performed in concerts with lyrical songs. This determined her choice of profession. In 1988, Sadakova was invited to the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic as a
Myskal Omurkanova (1915—1976) — an outstanding folk singer. She was born in the village of Epkin in the Jumgal district of the Naryn region. She began her artistic career in 1936 when she won first prize at the All-Kyrgyz Olympiad of Folk Art. When she joined the Naryn Regional Musical and Dramatic Theater in 1940, Myskal already had some performance experience in her native village of Chayek, in the so-called collective farm theater. Her rich, velvety voice, unique in timbre, range, and
Musa Bayetov (1902—1949) is the author of four dozen songs. The best of them are created in lyrical genres. Even in his youth, when Bayetov began his creative activity at the Naryn city radio station as a performer, he created the songs "Milaia" ("Zharoo-ker") and "Prosyipayus" ("Oygonom"). Later, as a soloist of the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic, he composed the famous songs "Mudraia" ("Daanishman") and "Uchilsia ya v stolitse"
Atay Ogonbaev (1900—1949) entered the history of Kyrgyz folk musical culture as a versatile musician, singer, komuz player, and author of beautiful lyrical songs. His best works are distinguished by their spirituality and exquisite style. Songs such as "Burned to Ashes" ("Kuydum chok"), "I Remember" ("Esimde"), "Youth" ("Zhashtar"), "Longing" ("Sagyńych"), "Flower" ("Gul"), "Oh,
SARIYEV Donbay Dooolotbaevich
SARBANOV Kytaybek Sarbanovich
SADYBAKASOV Kamchybek Akmatovych
RYSPKOVA Tatyana Anatolyevna
