Karakalpak Dutars

KARAKALPAK DUTAR  - The dutar (Dotar) is the main plucked instrument all over Central Asia. It can be found in many different shapes and styles. Although some players play solos on the dutar, it is mainly used to accompany songs and poetry. In the past, Karakalpak bards (performing poets) roamed from village to village, reciting stories and verses. They were accompanied on the bow played two-stringed dutar, and the qobyz and ghypzhek.

The body of the dutar is made from a single block of (usually mulberry) wood. The flat front is made of thin mulberry wood. The edge of the body around the front is left a bit thicker. The sound-holes are a few drilled holes in a geometrical design.

The long thin neck (made of mulberry or apricot) includes the (straight) peg-box. There is no fret-board. The frets are made of nylon strings and tied-on in half diatonic scale (depends on the player). At the right side of the neck is a groove to ease making the knots in the frets. There are two flat T-shaped friction pegs, one on the front, one on the left. The two metal strings run over a small loose bridge to a bit of wood at the end of the body.

The neck and the body is often highly decorated with inlay bone, with black etchings of lines and circles, and glued and nailed to the instrument. The top of the body also has inlays, together forming a kind of circle. The entire instrument is left unvarnished.

Left hand playing is with two fingers for the first string and the thumb for the second string. The right hand plays normally strumming with the index finger.

Source: http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/central_asia.htm

Good reference on the musical culture of Karakalpakstan read Baksi and Jyrau, Duutar and Kobyz by Djumaev Alexander (Journal of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan) for article go to http://sanat.orexca.com/2003/2003-2/baksi_jyrau-2/

The Girjek or Spike Fiddle of Karakalpakstan

The Girjek or spike fiddle is used by Uyghurs, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turkmens and Karakalpaks.

It is a very distinct instrument with beautful inlayed or leather covered bases it has characteristics similiar to the violin. A round-bodied spike fiddle with 3 or 4 metal strings and a short fretless a spherical resonator with a skin soundtable. Although not visible, the acoustics produced are made possible by this skin inlay soundtable within the base. The bow is made of horsehair.

The instrument is held on the knee while playing. During the 19th century the Ghirjak had two, three, four or seven strings, but by the end of the 20th century only the four-string Ghidjak was in use in Uzbekistan. The sound became stronger and diapason became wider. Other related instruments are the Girjek-alt and Girjek-prima.

In Karakalpakstan the Girjek player is called a Girjeksh. It is played both as a solo instrument and in the orchestra and is also used to accompany singers.

The origins of the girjek are not known, but the instrument is mentioned in 10th-century manuscripts which indicate that almond shells were used to construct the bridge (harak). It was depicted in 15th-century Persian miniature paintings is similar in construction to the 20th-century instrument but had a longer spike.


Source: http://nukus36.karakalpak.ru/cyberfair/girjek.html

Music Instruments of Uzbekistan The rich variety of musical instruments within Uzbekistan reflects the great diversity of musical styles performed on them. Small ensembles of mixed instruments are at the heart of the classical maqâm tradition. Characteristic instruments in such ensembles include the long-necked fretted lutes (tanbur, dutar, ud, tar, rubab, sat (setar), spike fiddle (ghijak/girjek) and the Kobooz), also present are instruments such as the side-blown flute (nai and ghadjir nai), struck zither (chang), frame drum (dayra) and a small clarinet like instrument made from reed (qoshnay). Another typical ensemble consists of long trumpets (karnai), loud oboes (surnai) and, membrane percussion instruments – (doira, chindaul and others). The kettledrums (naghora) are also an obligatory presence at festive and ceremonial occasions. In rural regions, epic singers accompany themselves on a short fretless lute (dombra), while amateur musicians play the Jew's harp (chang-kobuz) or a simple variety of the spike fiddle (kiak). Source: http://www.iberiasiatour.com/english/Music.html

Dutars

Painted by Serekeev Bazarbay - Little Dutar Player (Source Karakalpak State Art Museum http://www.museum.kr.uz/eng)

The dutar (dutor or dotar) is the main plucked instrument all over Central Asia. It can be found in many different shapes and styles. Dutars are usually made from a single block of wood (Afghanistan, Iran, and also in Karakalpakstan), but the two largest traditional dutars those of the Uzbeks and the Uyghurs are made of staves.

The body of the Uzbek dutar is made from separate ribs (usually mulberry wood), glued together with often a narrow half round strip on the outside of the joins. The flat front is also made of thin mulberry wood. The soundholes are a few drilled holes in a geometrical design.


Uzbek dutar

The long thin neck (mulberry or apricot) includes the (straight) pegbox. The frets are made of silk strings and tied-on in half diatonic scale. At the left side is a groove in the neck to ease making the knots in the frets. There are two flat T-shaped friction pegs, one on the front, one on the left. The two silk strings run over a small loose bridge to a bit of wood at the edge of the body.

The neck is often highly decorated with inlay bone (or black/white plastic nowadays) in squares, triangles, lines. The top of the ribs have triangle inlays, together forming a kind of windrose. The entire instrument is varnished.

Left hand playing is with two fingers for the first string and the thumb for the second string. The right hand plays often in a rhythmic fashion with a different finger for each beat. But also normal strumming with the index finger is done.

Its sonority is grave and noble, and it can be played both for solos and interpretation of the classical repertoire. However these days it is mainly used to accompany popular songs.


Pavel Petrovich Benkov ("Girl with dutar") Source: http://www.bertc.com

See for more information on the dotar see sources: http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/central_asia.htm and http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Music/dotar.htm