Music of Kazakhstan

The folk instrument orchestra was named after Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly, a well-known composer and dombra player from the 19th century.

Later, as part of the Soviet Union, certain Kazakh folk culture was encouraged to avoid political and social unrest.

Beginning in 1928 and accelerating in the 1930s, he also adapted traditional Kazakh instruments for use in Russian-style ensembles (such as increasing the number of frets and strings).

Thus, the group URKER, appearing on the music scene in 1994, was one of the first to raise the topic of patriotism and the revival of cultural values in their work.

An equally popular musical project that appeared in the 90s is the annual competition of young performers "Zhas Kanat".

Both solo performers and ensembles took part in the competition, and the project itself opened a new generation of singers for the Kazakh stage, such as Zhanna Sattarova, the group "Ayan" and Madina Sadvakasova.

[4] Hip-hop easily flourished in Kazakhstan due to the use of Russian in its songs, which makes it easier for Kazakh rappers to achieve popularity in other Russian-speaking countries.

[6][7] In 2013, American rapper Kanye West was privately invited by President Nursultan Nazarbayev to perform at his grandson's wedding.

Especially breakthrough was their track "Noise-boom-boom-Coup", which became the anthem of young people, and RAP ZONE inscriptions were emblazoned on yard fences, houses and in school diaries.

For the most part, current rappers are inspired by Western artists, looking for references in world and national culture, thanks to which rap in Kazakhstan is now quite distinctive and unique.

[18][19][20] In September 2022, Dimash caused a furor on Twitter after singing the Kazakh anthem before Gennady Golovkin's boxing bout against Canelo Alvarez.

[22] Toi (Той; literally means public gathering) refers to easy-listening folk music with catchy rhythm, usually performed in weddings and festives.

[23] Well-known Kazakh toi singers are Qairat Nurtas, Abdijappar Alqoja, Madina Saduakasova and Jazira Baiyrbekova.