1,000 Komuz Players

Today’s Wordless Wednesday … The Ensemble “En Belgi,” featuring 1,000 players of the komuz, performing at the opening ceremonies of the 2016 World Nomad Games in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, this past Saturday, September 3. The fretless, three-stringed komuz is the national instrument of Kyrgyzstan. “Mash Botoy” (“Horse Race”), the piece played here, is a tune that repeats several times performed in different styles, including with the instrument held over the shoulder, showing off the creativity and skill of the players. The World Nomad Games celebrate the culture and sports of the nomadic people of central Asia.