Reviewing Ensemble Forms in Kazakh Music-Making

For the first time this review examines the evolution of ensemble forms in Kazakh traditional musical performance from the 20th to the 21st century, transitioning from monophonic to polyphonic textures. The historical prerequisites for the emergence of collective music-making in Kazakhstan are analyzed, beginning with the early Kazakh traditional instrumental ensembles of the 1930s and continuing to the present day. Particular attention is paid to the outstanding figures of Kazakh musical art, such as Akhmet Zhubanov and Bolat Sarybayev, who made significant contributions to the development of ensemble and orchestral performance forms. A distinct section of this study focuses on the transformation of instrumental composition and repertoire of ensembles, as well as their functional features. As a specific musical example demonstrating the synthesis of tradition and innovation has been chosen the analysis of the kyui “Qairan Elim” by Bauyrzhan Aktaev performed by Astana Sazy—the State Ensemble of Kazakh Traditional Instruments. This study highlights the profound significance of Kazakh traditional ensembles as a universal performance genre that reflects the unparalleled richness of Kazakhstan’s national musical heritage.