Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments

Overview

The Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments sits in a handsome 1908 wooden building inside Panfilov Park. Its collection of over 1,000 instruments spans the full range of Kazakh and Central Asian musical tradition, from nomadic horsehair fiddles to ceremonial drums.

Highlights

• Dombra collection: Dozens of examples of Kazakhstan's national two-stringed lute, from ancient to modern.
• Kobyz display: The horsehair-stringed kobyz, central to shamanic and bard traditions.
• Audio stations: Listen to recordings of each instrument being played in traditional style.

History

The museum was founded in 1980 in a building originally constructed as the Officers' Assembly Hall. The carved wooden facade features Kazakh ornamental patterns and is a heritage landmark in its own right.

Visitor Tips

• Closed: Mondays.
• Performance hall: Occasional live concerts of traditional Kazakh music.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.