View source for Temir komuz

{{Short description|Musical Instrument}}
[[File:Kamuz.jpg|thumb|[[Altai people|Altai]] ''khomus''/''kamus''<br />([[Media:Kamus.ogg|Listen]])]]
[[File:Kyrgyz 7 tuned temir komuz.jpg|thumb|7 tuned komuz]]
The '''''temir komuz''''' (sometimes '''temir''' '''qomuz''' meaning 'iron komuz/qomuz', '''ooz komuz''' meaning 'mouth komuz', or '''gubuz''') is a [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]] [[jaw's harp|jaw harp]], while the [[komuz]] is a three-stringed fretless lute. As an instrument, the temir komuz is unrelated to the komuz in terms of style and structure; however, it takes its name from the other popular Turkic instrument.
The stringed komuz is used by [[Turkic people]] living in central Asia e.g., Kyrgyz, [[Uzbeks]], [[Kazakhs]], [[Turkmens]], and [[Uyghurs]], as well as by [[Azerbaijanis|Azeri]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and [[Yakuts|Yakut]] people. In fact, ''komuz'' is cognate for the names of several musical instruments, used extensively by Turkic people and key to the [[music of Central Asia]], just as [[Kazakh language|Kazakh]] ''[[kobyz]]'' ([[Uzbek language|Uzbek]] {{Transl|uz|qo'biz}}) (bowed instruments), the [[Tuvan language|Tuvan]] and [[Sakha language|Sakha]] or Yakut {{Transl|tyv|xomus}} (a jaw harp), Azeri {{Lang|az|gopuz}}, [[Dagestan]] ''[[agach komus]]'', [[Avar language|Avar]] people {{Transl|av|temur}}, and Turkish {{Lang|tr|kopuz}}.
The oldest known komuz-like instrument dates from the 4th century although the related Azerbaijani {{Lang|az|gopuz}} is believed to date back to 6000 BCE following an archaeological discovery of clay plates depicting {{Lang|az|gopuz}} players. In the 1960s American archeologists working in the Shushdagh mountains near the ancient city of Jygamish in Iranian [[Azerbaijan]], uncovered a number of rare clay plates which dated back to around 6000 BCE which depicted musicians at a council, holding a komuz-like instrument to their chests{{citation-needed|date=October 2015}}. The {{Lang|az|golcha gopuz}} was mentioned in the epic ''[[Book of Dede Korkut]]''.<ref>''Atlas of Traditional Music of Azerbaijan''</ref>
The temir komuz is made of iron usually with a length of {{convert|100|-|200|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} and with a width of approximately {{convert|2|-|7|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}. The range of the instrument varies with the size of the instrument, but generally hovers around an [[octave]] span. The Kyrgyz people are unusually proficient on the temir komuz instrument and it is quite popular among children. However, some adults continue to play the instrument.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}
There is a National Artist of [[Kyrgyz Republic]] who performs on the instrument. One time twenty [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]] girls played in a temir komuz ensemble on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. Temir komuz pieces have been notated by [[Aleksandr Zatayevich|Aleksandr Zataevich]] in two or three [[part (music)|parts]]. Apparently an octave [[Drone (music)|drone]] is possible, or even an [[ostinato]] alternating the [[Fifth step (musical scale)|fifth]] step of a [[Musical scale|scale]] with an octave.<ref name="Kirgiz Instrumental Music">Mark Slobin {{Google books |title=Kirgiz Instrumental Music |id=uIRnaq0_Il8C |page=20 }}</ref>
==In Turkic traditional music==
The instrument is also used by [[Sakha people|Sakha]] or [[Yakuts|Yakut]] people, and in [[Tuvans|Tuvan]] music with the name {{Transl|tyv|xomus}}. It was introduced to [[Hungary]] by the [[Cuman]] people.
A [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]] marionette play called {{Transl|ky|tak-teke}} (jumping-goat) features the temir komuz; the player attaches a small goat figure to a string and ties the string to their right hand. They move the puppet skillfully while playing the instrument.<ref name="Kirgiz Instrumental Music" />
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Plucked idiophones}}
{{Strings (music)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Temir Komuz}}
[[Category:Heteroglot guimbardes and jaw harps]]
[[Category:Kyrgyz musical instruments]]
[[Category:Yakuts]]