Musical instruments

Birth of Uzbek traditional musical instruments is famous for its ancient history. Several antique instruments were painted on the fresco of ancient palaces of Sogdiana and Bactria. Their images could be seen in medieval miniatures and manuscript. The oldest instruments are percussion, as a rhythm is essential in Uzbke music.

Lots of musical instruments exist in Uzbekistan up to date.

Karnay is a horn, which length reaches up to three meters. Cylindrical body with trumpet is made from latten and copper.

Doira is a drum, which represents a wooden hoop with diameter up to fifty centimeters. One side of the hoop is faced with leather membrane, and sixty metal rings are fixed on the other side. Musician beats the membrane by fingers of both hands and shakes the doira at the same time to accompany the rhythm with melodious jingle.

Kayrok is one of the oldest instruments. It is composed by two pairs of polished stones that accompanied an old men’s dance.

Zang is ethnographical instrument. It has a form of armlet with latten and copper drops. Dancing-girls put them on arms and ankles.

Naj - wind-instrument and reminds a flute. Masters make naj from bamboo. It sounds pleasant.

Rubab is a plucked instrument with two pairs and one additional cord. It has a dome-shaped resonating hole with leather membrane. The sound is derived by special finger-piece.

Dutor has a pear-shaped body with two cords.

Gidjak is a bow-instrument which has a round body with tight leather membrane and four cords. Body is produced from coconut tree. Gidjak sound like violin.

Chang is a trapezoidal instrument with wooden body and 42 cords. The sound is extracted by two percussion cane sticks.

The right choice of the wood plays a big role in instruments production. General sources are plane tree, mulberry, nut- wood, apricot tree, bamboo and coconut tree. Wood of fruit trees provides a jingly and clear sound.  Preparation is a long process. First, the wood is plunged in to water. Next is drying procedure. It is important that the wood is enough dry before the manufacturing. As a result is a qualitative instrument which will serve to musician for a long time.