(1) Two-string long-necked lute of the Kazakhs of Central Asia. The western dömbra is pear-shaped and usually has 12 to 14 frets, while the eastern model may have a spade-shaped or triangular body, a shorter neck and five to nine frets. The body of the instrument may be made of oak, pine, fir, cedar or maple. The strings were formerly made of gut but are now made of nylon; they may be tuned a 2nd, a 4th or a 5th apart or in unison. The dömbra is often used to accompany epic performance as well as folksongs; its repertory includes approximately 7000 kyui (instrumental pieces) which may be divided into two groups according to performance style. In the shertpe style of playing which originated in east Kazakhstan, the index finger and thumb of the right hand are used to pluck the strings, while in the tökpe style found in west Kazakhstan, all the fingers of the right hand are used simultaneously to strum them. Important performers have included Tättimbet Qazanghepuly (1815–62) and Dauletkerei Shigaev (1820–87) in east Kazakhstan and Quermanghazy Saghyrbaev (1818–89) and Dina Nürpeiogyzy (1861–1955) in west Kazakhstan. The basic left-hand technique of the Kazakh dömbra consists of stopping the lower string with the thumb and the upper string with the fingers, the thumb thus often maintaining a stable position against which the fingers move.
(2) Two-string unfretted lute of the semi-nomadic Uzbeks of south-west Uzbekistan, also known as the dumbrak. Its strings are tuned a 4th, a 5th or an octave apart. The construction of the dömbra is similar to that of the adjacent Afghan Turkestani dambura and Tajik dumbrak, but the repertory and musical style of the Uzbek lute are unique, involving flexible use of two-part polyphony and a great range of rhythmic patterns. The dömbra is played by bakhshi to accompany epics (see Uzbekistan, §I, 2(i) and 3(iii)), and is also popular as a solo instrument in the Kashkadarya-Surkhandarya area and Khorezm. The right hand is used to pluck the strings alternately individually and simultaneously, and the strings may also be plucked with the left hand.
(3) Two-string fretted lute of the Kalmyk Mongols west of the Volga delta, often used to accompany solo dancing.
MARK SLOBIN/RAZIA SULTANOVA