Begali Talipov, a master from the village of Kyzyl-Bulak in the Kadamjay district, has been making komuzes since 2010.
He is a descendant of the famous master Orozali Talipov and continues the family traditions, preserving the secrets of his father.
According to Begali, the main material for creating a quality komuz is apricot wood. "In our region, there are many old apricot orchards, so we select trees that are about 30–35 years old. The older the tree, the more melodic and rich the sound of the instrument," he notes.
During the work process, the master also uses other types of wood, such as walnut, willow, or spruce, but connoisseurs claim that the sound of the apricot komuz is distinguished by its particular loudness and clarity.
The process of making the instrument includes several key stages:
- preparation – suitable wood is selected, from which a board 120–130 cm long is cut with a small margin;
- processing – the blank is processed on a special machine;
- boiling and drying – the wood is boiled to remove moisture and resins. After this, the material does not crack, dries faster, and becomes more suitable for fine work;
- assembly – the master gradually shapes the wood into the form of a classic komuz.
Gallery: Begali Talipov from Kyzyl-Bulak.
Begali Talipov emphasizes that the main advantage of Batken masters lies in their access to massive trunks of old trees, which allows them to create komuzes without glued parts. Even masters from the capital turn to him for solid apricot blanks. "Orders come from all corners of the country — from Bishkek to Osh, as well as from abroad. In national instrument shops in major cities, 60–70% of the komuzes offered are our products. Among the clients are many famous performers," he shares.
All the instruments produced by Begali are professional and have similar characteristics; however, the price can vary depending on the complexity of the decoration.
- a standard professional komuz costs from 7–8 thousand soms;
- exclusive options (with carving and ornamentation) can reach up to 15 thousand soms.
As Talipov explains, apricot komuzes are not covered with varnish. The wood has a natural reddish hue, which, after being treated with special oil and polished, acquires a noble shine and unique beauty.
