Folk Music Revival and Contemporary Tendencies of the National Traditions of Kazakhstan’s Musical Culture

Abstract

The second half of the 20th century in Kazakhstan was characterized by the emergence of a
large quantity of acoustic music, and then of electronic music based on folk musical material. The
emergence of such a reviviscence occurred in two staging points depending on the political situation
and the development of the musical culture. The methodological foundation of the research was
provided by theorems expounded in the works of scholars in Kazakhstan and in other countries.
Folkloristic-ethnographic groups and groups of electronic revival or “post-folklore” are examined
on the basis of the available material. Analysis is also made of a new spire in the development
of musical industry in the new millennium, when prospective new musicians who changed the
customary format of Kazakh music appeared on the scene. In the present day the musical landscape
and the alternative soundscape of contemporary Kazakhstan incudes diverse localized versions
of world music: rhythmic electronic dance sounds, hard rock, romantic and soft Indie, harsh rap,
experimental rock and other genres. In the practice of performance of ethnic rock contemporary
musicians use the electric version of the traditional instrument, – namely, the electro-dombyra. The
language of performance varies among musicians – from Kazakh to Russian and English.
Such a development of mass musical culture may lead to the emergence of new paths of assertion
of national identification.

Keywords: traditional music, folk revival, folk instruments, Kazakh music, folklore,
post-folklore.