Vocabulary:

surpass – уступать

а tack – сбруя

solemnly – свято

to be obliged – быть обязанным

mother-in-law – свекровь

a bride – невеста

a groom – жених

crescent shaped – в форме полумесяца

shekelik – височные украшения

clinking pendants – звенящие подвески

a wrist – запястье

a disposition – настроение

to survive – сохраняться

burial sites – места захоронений

curses – проклятия

evil powers – силы зла

• Choose the correct answer:

1. The majority of Kazakh jewelry was intended for ….

a) men b) women c) both men and women

2. A horse tack was called ….

a) the head of a man b) the hand of a man c) the wing of a man

3. Every woman was obliged to wear ….

a) earrings b) a tumar c) a ring

4. Women routinely wore …

a) one ring b) two rings c) three or four rings

5. The bird on jewelry symbolizes ….

a) strength b) wisdom c) freedom and happiness

6. Bracelets were worn ….

a) on the left wrist b) on both wrists c) on the right wrist

7. Adornments worn on the neck were called ….

a) sholpa b) shashbau c) tumar

8. Precious stones in silver clasps were called ….

a) eyes b) sparkles c) stars

Music

The life of nomads was always accompanied by music. They were creative people and used every material in making musical instruments. There was enough of such material in the steppe – reed, wood, leather. Also bones of animals, cattle's hoofs, and simple clay were used. Among the folk musical instruments which were especially popular dombra, kobyz, sybyzgy, dayylkaz, syrnai should be named. The music was divided into songs and instrumental one (kyuis). The kyuis usually accompanied the beginning of the meetings of the kins heads. The shepherds accompanied herds of sheep performing kyuis on sybyzgy (a kind of wind-instruments, like a flute). The warriors entered the battle to the sounds of dauylkaz (a beat-instrument).

The songs sounded in campaigns, at weddings and parties of young people. Akyns (singing poets) performed songs to the accompaniment of a two-string dombra. There were often contests (aityses) at the family or kin events, celebrations. Different performers participated in them:akyn (poet), zhyrau or zhyrshy (epos or legend teller), anshi and olenshi (singer), kyuishi (instrumentalist), yertekshi (a fairy tale teller), ku and sykkakoi (humourist, imitator). The contests between the professional artsmen obliged them to improve the performing mastership systematically. They had to be in the centre of events in order to react to the important themes in people's life. People added honourable prefixes «sal» and «sere» to the names of the most popular authors. One of the famous kyuishes (the kyuis performer) of the XIX centery was Kurmangazy Sagyrbayev (1818-1889). A famous composer, founder of the national instrumental music, he was characterized by his unique, bright, creative play on dombra. While working at the performing mastership he reached the highest levels in art. His kyuis reflect steppe sounds, smells and colours. His famous kyui «Sary Arka» performed at the international contest by the Kazakh Academic orchestra of folk instruments was awarded with a reward and glorified the name of Kurmangazy and all Kazakh people. Akhmet Zhubanov (1906-1968) continued Kurmangazy's work. His best works are «Abai» symphony, «Kurmangazy» opera. He collected and carefully kept Kazakh folk melodies and songs. One of A. Zhubanov's pupils is Nurgisah Tlendiyev (1925-1998). It is a bright name in the modern musical life of Kazakhstan. At the age of 14 Nurgisah became a conductor of an orchestra. Since that time he has made 400 orchestra preludes, plays, music for 20 films.

Among the famous singers of Kazakhstan, the first and still shining name is Kulyash Baiseyitova (1912-1957). She was the country's pride and fame, he won common recognition. She was called a nightingale of the Kazakh folk. She was awarded state reward for playing the part of Sarah in the opera «Birzhan Sarah» by M. Tulebayev.

Another famous modern actress and singer whose name is connected with classical music is Bibigul Tulegenova. Her splendid mastership of voice, charm, ability to change immediately have been attracting spectators for many years. The inimitable talent won all the people's recognition.

• Answer the questions:

1. What was material which nomads were used in making musical instruments?

2. What were the folk musical instruments popular?

3. Who was the famous kyuishes of the XIX century

• Match the sentences:

1. The kyuis usually accompanied the beginning of	the meeting of the kins heads
2. The warrior entered the battle	to the sounds of dauylkaz
3. Akyns performed songs to the accompaniment of	a two-string dombra
4. One of the famous kyuishes was	Kurmangazy Sagyrbayev
5. A bright name in the modern musical of Kazakhstan is	Nurgisah
6. The famous singer of K. the first and still shining is	Kulyash Baiseyitova
7. The famous modern actress and singer whose name is connected with classical music is	Bibigul Tulegenova