How it began
The komuz is a fretless plucked lute most closely identified with the Kyrgyz people of present-day Kyrgyzstan, and its development is tied to nomadic life. No single maker or date is recorded. Wikipedia reports that the oldest known komuz-like instrument dates from the 4th century. The Organology encyclopedia places its invention in the early medieval period and says its history goes back at least to the 10th century, on the evidence of historical writings and artifacts from the region.
How it works
The body and neck are generally carved from a single piece of apricot or juniper wood, hollowed into a light pear-shaped resonator and closed with a thin wooden soundboard that carries a small bridge. Three strings, traditionally of gut and now often of fishing line, run to tuning pegs at the head. In the most common tunings the middle string is the highest in pitch. The instrument is about 81 centimeters long. It is held horizontally and strummed or plucked, and virtuosos play it over the shoulder or upside down.
How it spread
The komuz belongs to a family of related Turkic string instruments. Its name is cognate with the Kazakh kobyz and the Uzbek qo'biz, and it is related to the Mongolian tovshuur. Wikipedia also links historical derivatives of the instrument to the kobza of Ukraine, Poland and Hungary. It is used both to accompany singing and as a lead instrument, and modern players use it in folk fusion, pop and rock.
Who pushed back
The Organology encyclopedia records Soviet-era restrictions on traditional music as a setback for the instrument, followed by a revival in the 20th and 21st centuries. It names Toktogul Satylganov, Kara Moldo Orozov, Niyaz Abdurakhmanov and Musa Baetov among the players who carried the tradition.
Where it stands today
The komuz is one of the better known Kyrgyz national symbols, and an illustration of it appears on the reverse of the one-som banknote. It is taught in schools and universities and featured at national events, and komuz ensembles and festivals are found across the country. A national Komuz Day was adopted in 2019, according to the University of Central Asia. Some modern instruments are fitted with pickups for amplification.
