THE STUDY OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSICAL HERITAGE OF THE KAZAKHS OF XINJIANG

Kazakh cultural elements evolved within the framework of tribal and clan-based art. The ethnic community of Turkic-speaking tribes largely determined the ethnic composition of the Kazakhs of Xinjiang. The spiritual heritage, including instrumental music, is closely tied to the nomadic life and played a significant role in shaping the cultural unity and national identity of the ethnic group. This article explores the instrumental musical heritage of the Xinjiang Kazakhs within a historical and cultural context. The objective is to examine the artistic and performance features of the dombyra and sybyzgy traditions in the region, to analyze the role of historical figures, and to identify the formation of regional performance schools, thereby clarifying the significance of this heritage within the musicology of both the Turkic world and Kazakhstan. The historical-typological, comparative-theoretical, ethnophonic analytical methods, and comprehensive methodological approach were used. The instrumental music of the Xinjiang Kazakhs was analyzed on notated and audiomaterials, revealing structural features of dombyra kyuis and differences in tonal and modal organization. The regional performance traditions, the artistic styles of prominent historical figures, and the historical and cultural development of the region’s instrumental music were scientifically examined.