Russian and Soviet-era Music in Kazakhstan

The influence of Russia on the music life in Kazakhstan can be seen in two ways: firstly, the establishment of musical academic institutions such as concerts houses with opera stages, conservatories where the European music were performed and taught, secondly, by trying to bring the Kazakh traditional music into these academic organizations. It was controlled by the Russian empire and Soviet Union; the classical Kazakhstan’s folk traditions became linked with the ethnic Russian music and the western European music. Early 20^th century, Kazahk music was collected and was studied by the ethnographic research teams including music critics, musicologists and composers. In the early part of the 19^th century, Kazakh music was translated in linear notation. Some of the composer during this period set Kazakh folk songs to Russian-style European classical music.

However, the Kazakhs themselves did not write their own music in notation until the year 1930. Later, as part of the Soviet Union, the culture of Kazakh folk was inspired in a sterile approach designed to avoid political and social unrest. The result was a weak derivative of the real Kazakh traditional music. In 1920, Aleksandr Zatayevich, a Russian official, made a major works of art music with melodies, and other elements of Kazakh traditional music. In the beginning of 1928 and rush in 1930s, he also adapted the folk Kazakh instruments and uses the Russian-style bands such as increasing the number of fret and strings. Later, these styles of the modern instrumental playing became the only way for artists to official play; also Kazakh folk were revolved into patriotic, socialist endeavor and professional.