Küü — komuz pieces

A küü is usually played on the komuz, sometimes on the kyl kyiak or choor flute. Each has a name and a story: the küü "Kambarkan", for example, tells of the legendary hunter who gave music to shepherds.

Küüs depict a hunter's journey, galloping horses, the grief of parting or the joy of a wedding, and performers often tell the story before playing.

The greatest masters of the genre were Toktogul Satylganov, Karamoldo Orozov and Atay Ogonbaev, whose küüs are still played and have been written down.