On 25 January 2018 a concert at the Akmola Regional Philharmonic opened with Dala Syry. Turlykhozha Bazarov stood at the conductor’s podium; the Kenzhebek Kumysbekov Orchestra of Kazakh Folk Instruments played. The composer’s name was present both in the ensemble’s title and in the evening’s first work.
Four years later the Kumysbekov Orchestra assembled a jubilee programme from eight of his works. In June 2023 the finale of the Dala Syry festival took place with the namesake ensemble and participants from Astana, Aktau, Semey and Taldykorgan. In the orchestra’s work, the name acquired a precise meaning: the composer’s music opened a broad concert, filled an evening of its own, and the ensemble hosted the finale of a gathering of four cities.
Dala Syry opens the evening
After Dala Syry, the orchestra performed Mereke by Sabyrkan Kusaiynov. The guest conductor Berik Urazalin of the Kostanay Philharmonic then took the podium, and the programme continued with music by many authors.
Music from different traditions followed the opening devoted to one composer; singers, flute soloists and pianists appeared between the orchestral works. Kurmangazy’s Adai formed the finale.
Kumysbekov’s first work thus became the beginning of a large mixed programme. The name connected composer and ensemble without narrowing the orchestra’s repertoire: music by different authors and traditions sounded beside it.
Eight works by one composer
The concert Ayaly Menin Mekenim on 23 February 2022 marked Kumysbekov’s ninety-fifth birthday. Turlykhozha Bazarov conducted; Zhanat Rashit was the artistic director and principal conductor.
Now the entire evening belonged to one composer’s music. The orchestral part included the symphonic dastan — an extended narrative work — Dala Syry, and three kui, Kazakh instrumental pieces: Amanat, Merekelik Aqzhelen and Kerbezim.
Four more works made up the vocal part. Mereke Bekmagambetov and Mirzat Moldakhanov performed Kokshetau Darkhan Duman Zher, Elmira Nysanbayeva sang Zhas Omir, and Ayakoz Kalmaganbetova sang Aqquym Aidynyna Oraldyn Ba? In the finale all the singers performed Ayaly Menin Mekenim, the song that gave the evening its title.
In 2018 Dala Syry had been the first work in a programme of music by many authors. In 2022 eight Kumysbekov compositions joined an orchestral dastan, kui and songs in one programme. The namesake ensemble now presented not a single piece, but an entire evening devoted to the composer.
The finale of four cities
In June 2023 Dala Syry became the title of a four-day festival of orchestras of Kazakh folk instruments. Ensembles from Astana, Aktau, Semey and Taldykorgan performed in turn in Kokshetau. At the closing gala concert, the host Kumysbekov Orchestra served as the ensemble for guest conductors and soloists.
From 2018 to 2023, Dala Syry appeared in three programmes. The work first opened a concert, then entered a jubilee evening, and finally gave its name to a festival featuring orchestras from four cities.
Kumysbekov’s name did not remain a line in the ensemble’s title. His music opened a broad programme, filled a jubilee evening, and the orchestra hosted a festival finale. Memory continued through the orchestra’s work.