Komuz

A komuz is usually carved from a single piece of apricot or juniper wood. Its three strings were traditionally made of gut, and in the most common tuning the middle string is the highest.

Players do not just play it but make it "speak": finger movements, spinning the instrument and even playing it overhead are part of the performance. Instrumental pieces for komuz are called küü.

The komuz is one of Kyrgyzstan's best-known national symbols, and Komuz Day is marked every year on the third Sunday of September. Toktogul Satylganov, Karamoldo Orozov and Atay Ogonbaev were great masters of the instrument.