Begali Talipov, who lives in the village of Kyzyl-Bulak in the Kadamjai district, began making komuz in 2010.
As the son of the famous master Orozali Talipov, Begali continues the family business, preserving the traditions and secrets of his father.
According to the master himself, the main material for creating a quality komuz is apricot wood. "In our region, there are many old apricot orchards, and we choose trees that are 30–35 years old. The older the tree, the more melodic the sound of the instrument will be," notes Begali.
In addition to apricot, willow, walnut, and spruce are also used for making the instrument, but experts claim that the apricot komuz has a purer and louder sound.
The process of making the instrument includes several key stages:
- preparation – suitable wood is selected, from which a board 120–130 cm long is cut with a small margin.
- processing – the blank is processed on a special machine.
- boiling and drying – the wood must be boiled to remove moisture and resins. This process makes the material more resistant to cracks and facilitates further processing.
- assembly – the master gradually gives the wood the shape of a classic komuz.
Gallery: Begali Talipov from the village of Kyzyl-Bulak.
According to Begali, the main advantage of Batken masters lies in their access to massive trunks of old trees. This allows them to create komuz from a solid piece, without glued parts. Even masters from the capital often ask him to send solid blanks made from Batken apricot. "We receive orders from all corners of the country — from Bishkek to Osh, as well as from abroad. In large national instrument stores, 60–70% of sales consist of our work. Among our clients are many famous performers," shares the master.
All the instruments made by Begali fall into the professional category; their main characteristics are similar, and the price varies depending on the complexity of the decoration.
- a standard professional komuz costs from 7,000 to 8,000 soms.
- exclusive models with carvings and ornaments can reach prices of up to 15,000 soms.
Talipov emphasizes that apricot komuz are not covered with varnish. The wood has a natural reddish hue, which, after being treated with special oil and polished, acquires shine and unique beauty.
