The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Dombra

(Kazakh dombyra), a Kazakh stringed instrument played by plucking. It is also found in Uzbekistan (dombyra, dumbrak) and Bashkiria (dumbyra). It has a pear-shaped body with a wooden soundboard, a long neck, and two sinew strings tuned in fourths (sometimes in fifths). The dombra produces a quiet and soft sound. There are two types of dombra: the western Kazakh dombra, with its more narrow neck and 14-17 frets, is strummed like a balalaika, while the eastern Kazakh dombra, with its somewhat thicker neck and seven to eight frets, is usually plucked. In 1934 the instrument was modified and a number of orchestral variants were designed.

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References in periodicals archive

The town's first ever international festival was headlined by the appearance of Kazakhstan band Haileybury Astana Dombra Ensemble, the twoday festival was hailed a success by a captivated local crowd who enjoyed a series of different performances on the closing afternoon.

Kazakh music tops bill at international festival; Arts: Central Asian performers captivate locals at town's inaugural event

Children born in early hours of July 1 have been given their first gift - dombra, Astana authorities said.

Children born in early hours of July 1 in Astana gifted national musical instrument

In addition to Guitar, Gabriel is versed in dutar, dombra, tanbour, balta saz, and kamancha.

American musician brilliantly plays kamancha

Folkloric dances and songs, the angelic sound of the dombra, precise horseback riding, and exquisite craftsmanship passed through generations all continue to captivate foreign guests.

Astana: embassy navigates geopolitics in capital of Eurasia's emerging powerhouse

Not only did he need to immerse himself in the culture and musical tradition of Kazakhstan but on a practical level he had to master traditional Kazakh instruments such as the kobyz and the dombra and pronunciation of the language.

Karl visits the land of Ali G's Kazakh cousin for latest work

In the old days, everyone learned to ride a horse and play the dombra. The dombra, the national instrument, is a two-stringed instrument with a long neck and a short round body.

Introducing Kazakhstan and its People