Akyns, or aqyns ( kk, ақын, ky, акын, ; both transcribed as ''aqın'' or ''اقىن''), are

improvising Improvisation is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. Improvisation in the performing arts is a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation. The skills of impr ...

poets A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

and

singers Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

in the Kazakh and

Kyrgyz Kyrgyz, Kirghiz or Kyrgyzstani may refer to: * Someone or something related to Kyrgyzstan *Kyrgyz people *Kyrgyz national games *Kyrgyz language *Kyrgyz culture *Kyrgyz cuisine *Yenisei Kirghiz *The Fuyü Gïrgïs language in Northeastern China ...

cultures. Akyns differ from the or , who are song performers or epic storytellers. In song competitions known as aytıs, akyns improvise in the form of a song-like

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repea ...

, usually to the

accompaniment Accompaniment is the musical part which provides the rhythmic and/or harmonic support for the melody or main themes of a song or instrumental piece. There are many different styles and types of accompaniment in different genres and styles ...

of a

dombra The ''dombra'', also known as ''dombyra'' ( kz, домбыра, uz, dombira, ba, думбыра) is a long-necked Kazakh, Uzbek and Bashkir lute and a musical string instrument. The dombyra shares certain characteristics with the komuz a ...

(among

Kazakhs The Kazakhs (also spelled Qazaqs; Kazakh: , , , , , ; the English name is transliterated from Russian; russian: казахи) are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group native to northern parts of Central Asia, chiefly Kazakhstan, but also parts o ...

) or a

komuz The komuz or qomuz ( ky, комуз , az, Qopuz, tr, Kopuz) is an ancient fretless string instrument used in Central Asian music, related to certain other Turkic string instruments, the Mongolian tovshuur, and the lute. The instrument can be f ...

(among

). In the context of the

nomad A nomad is a member of a community without fixed habitation who regularly moves to and from the same areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the popu ...

ic lifestyle and

illiteracy Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, huma ...

of most of the

rural In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are describ ...

population in

Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...

in pre-

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

times, akyns played an important role in terms of expressing people's thoughts and feelings, exposing social vices, and glorifying heroes. In the Soviet era, their repertoire incorporated praise songs to

Lenin Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. ( 1870 – 21 January 1924), better known as Vladimir Lenin,. was a Russian revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. He served as the first and founding head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 to 19 ...

. Modern akyns may also publish their original lyrics and poetry.

Akyn Kazakhstan

Famous Kazakh Akynes: Zhanak Kambaruluy (1760-1857), Mahambet Utemsov (1804-1846), Suunbai Aronewa (1815-1898), Shernyz Zharylgasov (1817-1881), Birzhan-Sal Khodgulov (1834-1897), Ziaus Bayjanov ( 1835-1929), Akan Sere Corramsauluy (1843-1913), Jambul Jabaev (1846-1945), Gaziz Firesoll (mind 1930), Kenen Azerbaev (1884-1976), Aktan Kereyuly. Akyn often fully improvizes, responding to any phenomena in society or at the situation on nationwide holidays, etc. On holidays, a kind of akyne competition is often held. During the aqua contest, having fun, alternately in poetry form, try to make fun of each other or choosing any arbitrary theme. Sometimes the authorities are trying to subjected to Aytyus censorship when it comes to the power of property or politicians. The nomadic lifestyle and the speed of the art of Akynov did not allow the work in the past and maintain works on paper. Most of the works of Aquins remained lost.

Literature

*Nurmakhan, Zhanash: ''Kazaktyn 5000 Akyn-zhyrauy''. Almaty 2008.

References

External links

"Alpamysh"
at the Uysal-Walker Archive of Turkish Oral Narrative, Texas Tech University
Central Asian Identity Under Russian Rule
Kazakhstani culture Kyrgyz-language literature Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Bashkir folklore Poets {{folklore-stub ky:Акын

Akyn Kazakhstan

Literature

See also

References

External links