Sazgen Sazy

The Sazgen Sazy musical ensemble is Kazakh folkloric group of musical performers. In 1981 Uzbekali Zhanibekov the outstanding musical researchman, historian and ethnographer had brainchild to form group from members of staff of Ykhlas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments in Almaty to present concerts for visitors to the Ykhlas Museum of Folk. After few years they make their name and professional musicians formed a queue to join in.

Bagdat Tilegenov, now the ensemble musical director, joined in 1989 but the group then was only called Sazgen. After only two glorious years he was asked to be head of it. Bagdat says:

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"Folk music is everlasting. It's like the classics which are the foundation of the basics and the start of all beginnings. We're born with them and we're still learning with them. We live with them. Musicians playing Kazakh folk instruments make listeners sense the beauty and feel the music of steppe melodies from ancient times. Listeners are moved by the originality of the works of folk composers and they hear the voices of mysterious instruments which come alive as the musicians play, giving rise to an exalted reaction of in the hearts of the listeners

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Sazgen Sazy has wide repertoire of more 300 works includes, Kazakh musical arrangements known as the kuy and works by illustrious Kazakh composers such as Kumangazy, Ykhlas, Tattimbet, Dauletkerey, Kazangap, Dina Nupeisova, Sugur and Bayzhigit. The ensemble also perform works by modern composers and foreigh songwriters like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, Paul Mauriat, James Last and Roger Whittaker.