On 5 July, Kazakhstan celebrates National Dombra Day.

Among the many forms of traditional Kazakh art, the dombra and the art of kui performance represent a unique cultural tradition with a history spanning many centuries. According to archaeological and ethnographic evidence, dombra-like instruments were used across the Eurasian steppe thousands of years ago. Some historical sources suggest that the instrument’s origins date back between 2,000 and 6,000 years.

  The dombra holds a special place in the spiritual life of the Kazakh people. The formation of this musical instrument dates back to ancient times. The dombra was widely used among Turkic-speaking peoples from Altai to Anatolia. The Altai Mountains, regarded as the cradle of Turkic peoples, are considered to be one of the earliest places where the first dombra-like instruments emerged.

Academician Akhmet Zhubanov once said: “The dombra, the most cherished and sacred musical instrument of the Kazakh people who inhabited the vast steppe, with its deep resonant and thoughtful plucked sounds, is pleasing to the ear and close to the heart; its silvery ringing tone reveals many hidden stories.”

The oldest examples of dombra-like instruments were discovered in caves of the Zhargalant-Khairkhan mountain range in the Altai-Mongolian region. A two-stringed fretted instrument resembling the dombra was found there. Ancient inscriptions were discovered on the body of the instrument. These inscriptions were deciphered by Berlin-based Turkologist Peter Sieme. According to Turkologist K. Sartkozhauly, the inscription reads: “The melody of the fragrant kui fills us with love.” This valuable artifact dates back to the 5th-6th centuries BC.

Structure of the Dombra

The dombra is one of the oldest and most sacred musical instruments of the Kazakh people. It is a two-stringed, multi-fretted plucked instrument and is considered an inseparable part of Kazakhstan’s spiritual and cultural life.

The dombra is usually tuned in two main ways: the fourth tuning and the fifth tuning. It consists of several parts: the head, tuning pegs, frets, neck, body, soundboard and bridge. Traditionally, the dombra is carved from wood.

Different regions of Kazakhstan have developed various forms of the dombra. Across the Kazakh steppe, the shape and........

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