Museum of Folk Musical Instruments
Mixing cultures
The Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen is home to one of the most beautiful museums in Almaty – the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments. It is situated in the former House of Officers, which was built in 1908 under the direction of the renowned architect Andrey Zenkov. The building exemplifies the best traditions of Russian wooden architecture, which was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as architects sought to revive the pre-Petrine style. The museum's appearance evokes the enchanting world of Russian fairy tales, with its double-pitched roofs and dome-shaped canopy that bear a striking resemblance to medieval Russian churches. The primary form of decoration is intricate carving, which is present on the windows and porch. The facade is adorned with decorative overlays, and national Kazakh ornaments lend the building a local twist. The museum opened its doors to visitors in 1981 and continues to be a beloved cultural attraction in the area.
Musical instruments from around the world
The museum contains nine exhibition halls that offer visitors a comprehensive look at musical instruments from around the world. Of special note are more than 40 varieties of Kazakh folk instruments, including the zhetygen (a plucked zither), dombra (a long-necked string instrument), kobyz (a bowed string instrument), syldyrmak (a tambourine), adyrna (a string musical instrument similar to a harp), togyldak (a percussion instrument that looks like a box with a small wooden hammer), and more.
The museum's Hall of Ancient Musical Instruments displays instruments found during archaeological excavations. Visitors can also view unique exhibits, such as the «Shaman's Altar,» an ancient stone with petroglyphs dating back to the 4th century BC.
The Hall of Wind and Percussion Instruments showcases primitive instruments created to imitate the sounds of nature. Meanwhile, the Hall of Kazakh Composers and Singers displays instruments used by notable Kazakh musicians, including the three-hundred-year-old narkobyz, a traditional Kazakh bowed string instrument. Outside the museum entrance, visitors can admire a sculpture of a narkobyz.
In the Craftsmen's Hall, visitors can view rare and unique instruments made by renowned local artisans. The Hall of Kobyz features various types of ancient Kazakh musical instruments, mainly made from juniper and birch.
Other exhibition halls include the Hall of Musical Instruments of Turkic-speaking Peoples, which features unique instruments from Turkmen, Bashkirs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Turks, Uzbeks, and other Turkic-speaking peoples. Other halls showcase musical instruments from Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Each exhibition hall is equipped with modern equipment that broadcasts compositions specific to that room. Additionally, the museum has a concert hall with 120 seats, where visitors can listen to traditional music live. In summary, the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments offers a unique and enriching cultural experience for visitors to Almaty.
How to get there?
Address: Almaty, 24a Zenkov St.
You can reach the museum by buses # 13, 16, 22, 66, 126, 129 or trolleybuses # 1, 9, 11, 12, and 19 that go to the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen. The nearest subway station – Zhibek Zholy – is a 15-minute walk from the park.
Opening hours:
Tue-Sun from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Mon – day-off
Other tourist attractions near the museum:
- Military History Museum
- Ascension Cathedral
- Alley of Presidents
- Memorial of Glory
- ARTiSHOCK Theatre
- Zhibek Zholy Street
- Puppet Theatre
- Tulebayev Street
- Green Bazaar
- Jambyl Philharmonic Hall
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