ORGANOLOGICAL AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF KARAKALPAK AND TURKMEN GIRJEK INSTRUMENTS: A COMPARATIVE-HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article explores the historical role, organological features, and mutual musical-cultural connections of the girjek (gijjak)—a leading bowed string instrument in the traditional music culture of Central Asian peoples—within the Karakalpak and Turkmen performance traditions. The study provides a comparative-analytical examination of the construction, tuning, ensemble and bakhshi accompaniment functions, as well as the similarities and distinctive features in performance techniques of the girjek in both cultures.