Musical tours in Kazakhstan -
Cultural life of Almaty and Almaty region -
The Ykylas Museum of Musical Instruments is one of the most unique cultural places in Kazakhstan, where the richest heritage of the musical tradition of the Kazakh people is carefully preserved. It was opened in 1980 and named after Ykylas Dukenuly, a famous kuyshi and kobyz player who lived in the 19th century and left a great legacy in the development of Kazakh musical culture. The museum houses the kobyz that Ykylas himself played, as well as dombras of famous kuyshi and singers. Each instrument has its own history and unique sound that reflects the soul of the Kazakh steppe. The museum is located on the territory of the beautiful park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen in the old part of the city next to the "Memorial of Glory".
The building of the Museum of Musical Instruments itself is also of historical value. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century according to the project of the architect Andrey Zenkov, the same one who built the famous Ascension Cathedral, which is located nearby. The building is made in a wooden style with elements of Russian architecture, decorated with carvings and turrets, which makes it a real architectural decoration of the city of Almaty. The museum's collection contains more than a thousand exhibits. It contains musical instruments not only of the Kazakh people, but also of many other ethnic groups of the world. The central place is occupied by national instruments: dombra, narkobyz, kylkobyz, zhezkobyz, sazgen, syrnay, shankobyz, zhetygen and others. Many of them have a centuries-old history and are associated with legends, traditions and the names of great kuishi.
How to get there and visit -
The Ykylas Museum of Musical Instruments is located at the following address: Zenkova Street 24a, in the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, next to the Zhibek Zholy metro station, Medeu District, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinatins: 43°15'33"N 76°57'24"E
Phone: +7 (727) 291 69 17; +7 (727) 248 38 30
Working hours: Tuesday-Sunday (Monday is a closed day)
History -
The history of the museum began in 1980, when a decision was made in Almaty to create a unique institution capable of bringing together the musical treasures of the Kazakh people and the peoples of the world. The name of the great kuyshi Ykylas Dukenuly, a master of playing the kobyz of the 19th century, was not chosen by chance. He personified the connection between generations, traditions and the spiritual depths of music. The initial collection was formed from exhibits collected by ethnographers and musicians throughout Kazakhstan. Over time, the collection has expanded significantly, and today the museum is the largest of its kind in the country.
Exposition -
The museum's exposition is striking in its diversity and scale. It houses more than a thousand exhibits - from simple folk instruments to unique artifacts with a rich history. Dombra, kobyz, sybyzgy, jetigen, sherter, dauylpaz - each instrument is the embodiment of the traditions and spirit of the steppe. A special place is occupied by instruments that belonged to famous kuishis and musicians: the kobyz of Ykylas, the dombra of Kurmangazy, Suyunbay and other masters, whose names have forever entered the history of Kazakh culture. In the museum, you can see the rarest examples of instruments that have preserved the magic of the past - from archaic shamanic kobyzes to ancient percussion drums used in rituals and military campaigns. But the collection is not limited to Kazakh instruments. The exhibition also features musical instruments of the peoples of the world: India, China, Japan, Korea, Africa, Europe. This emphasizes that music is a universal language of humanity, capable of connecting different peoples and cultures.
Building and architecture -
The building of the Ykylas Museum of Musical Instruments is a separate pearl. It was built in 1908 according to the design of the architect Andrey Zenkov and, like a fairy tale come to life, pleases its visitors. Imagine a wooden tower, where every centimeter of the facade is decorated with skillful carving. High three-wing windows are framed with platbands that look like lace, and the walls are decorated with elegant wooden ligature. The architectural rhythm is set by three projections-risalits, of which the central one is a real pearl: it is crowned with a two-tiered tent, where a through gallery with carved columns is hidden under a hipped roof.
But the main magic is in the details. During the reconstruction in 1979, Kazakh national motifs were woven into the ornament: here is “agash” – the tree of life, symbolizing the connection of generations; and “shynzhara” – running waves, reminiscent of the endless steppes; and “uzilmes” – a climbing stem, a sign of eternal movement; and “otkizbe” – a horn-shaped curl, personifying strength and well-being.
Even the entrance here is like a portal to another world – it is guarded by a high porch with a keel-shaped canopy, resting on openwork carved pillars. And in the upper tier of the tower volume, like the eyes of a giant, small square windows sparkle. Even the attic windows here are not simple – their ends are stylized as ancient symbols.
Monument status -
The building of the Ykylas Museum of Musical Instruments received the status of an architectural monument in Soviet times and today it is a protected cultural heritage site of national significance. Its preservation and use as a museum has become a symbol of respect for the history of the city and the cultural traditions of the country. The museum is not a static collection of exhibits - it lives. Concerts, master classes, lectures, and thematic exhibitions are held here. The halls of the museum come alive with the sounds of kyuis performed by masters of the dombra and kobyz. Tourists and city residents can not only see, but also hear the sound of ancient instruments, feel their power and emotional depth. A visit to the museum turns into a real meeting with the past and the future at the same time. Here you can feel the breath of eternity when you look at the ancient kobyz and dombra, and at the same time understand that live music still sounds in the hands of modern performers.
The Ykylas Museum is not just a building and not just a collection. It is a temple of Kazakh music, a keeper of the memory of ancestors and a symbol of the cultural wealth of Kazakhstan. Its walls breathe history, and its instruments are the voices of the steppe that will sound as long as the people live.
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