CANCELLED: Kyrgyzstan: Roza Amanova / Duo Kanybekov

Kirgizstan lies between the northernmost foothills of the Himalayas and the Kazakh steppe. The country’s music is characterised by ancient epic songs, shamanic sounds, wedding songs and shepherd melodies. The traditional accompanying instrument is the komuz, a long-necked lute that spread to all parts of Asia via the Silk Road. Roza Amanova (b. 1973) is a master of this art. As the founder of the Centre for Traditional Kirghiz Music in the capital Bishkek and a socially engaged artist, she is making a key contribution to its revival and preservation.

And she is also bringing them into the present: most of the ancient stories that were passed on orally are based on the »Epic of Manas«, which tells the story of the mythical Kirghiz folk hero Manas’ battle against the Uyghurs in the 9th century.

Roza Amanova now composes epic songs called »Aqyns« that deal with pressing sociocultural, political and religious issues: climate change, environmental pollution, the switch from nomadic to city life. She is accompanied by the Kanybekov Duo on the komuz, sybyzgy flute, Jew’s harp and ocarina (chopo choor), who also contribute their own music into the mix.