Nurkan Tursunbaev

Born in the village of Chaek, Jumgal district, Naryn (Tien Shan) region . Grandfather Tursunbai was a komuzist, a narrator of " Manas " and other epics and folk works. Grandmother Zhyrgal was a well-known in her valley narrator of folk traditional works - “zhamakchi-koshokchu”. Mursaly's father was also a komuzist, storyteller of folk art, the youngest associate of akyn Toktogul Satylganov , who participated in 1939 at the decade of Kyrgyz art in Moscow along with great meters Musa Bayetov , Atai Ogonbaev , Myskal Omurkanova and others. Mom Kalyybubu was a well-known craftswoman in the valley.

The family had five children, the eldest brother Zhumgalbek was a journalist. The second brother, Socialbek, followed in his father's footsteps and became a great komuzist, raising many generations of komuzists, including one national artist of the republic Nurak Abdrakhmanov, melodist, komuzist Zainidin Imanaliev and others. Tattybubu ’s only sister became a great actress, honored artist of the Kyrgyz SSR ^[1] . The youngest brother of Imanmada was a sculptor-muralist - an artist, under his authorship, the Kyrgyz State Circus, the Aurora Sanatorium on Issyk-Kul, etc. were built and decorated.

His grandfather Tursunbai brought Nurkanbek to the world of music, it was he ^{[2] who} taught him to play the komuz, revealed other creativity abilities, which made Tursunbaev a multi-genre performer - drama and film actor, melodic composer, musician, poet. Subsequently, Nurkanbek independently learned to play 13 more musical instruments of different nationalities, so today he composes music, improvises on 14 musical instruments.

The first music composed by a thirteen-year-old schoolchild was dedicated by Nurkan Tursunbaev to his mother “Mom” - “Enemé” (lyrics by A. Moldokmatov). Before graduation, he composed more than 10 melodies for songs and participated with his sister Tattybuu (with whom he began to engage in creativity as a child) in various amateur art contests of the district, regional and republican scale, where they repeatedly became laureates and gained fame not only on a regional scale and the region, but also the republic. It was Tattubu that became the first performer of the songs of Nurkanbek Tursunbaev. Possessing a unique memory, she knew by heart all of his 180 songs and performed them. But, unfortunately, only 3 songs of them are recorded in the Golden Fund of the state television and radio company of Kyrgyzstan.

Tursunbaev’s song “You Party” - “Sen Party” (lyrics by A. Belekov) performed by the choir of the Tien Shan region at the Republican competition of amateur art won the first prize.

After graduating from the A.N. Ostrovsky Tashkent Theater and Art Institute in 1966 with a degree in drama and film, he began performing on the stage of the Kyrgyz National Academic Drama Theater named after T.Abdymomunova, where she works to this day. On the stage of his native theater, he successfully created images of various heroes in more than 100 performances, from the Kyrgyz national classics to the world. In addition to acting, he actively participated in the life of the theater: for 30 years he directed his touring activities, made a great contribution to strengthening his material and technical base.

Nurkanbek, as a melodic composer, composed music for more than 10 performances of the Kyrgyz National Academic Drama Theater named after T. Abdumomunov, about 20 puppet shows of the State Puppet Theater named after M. Zhangaziev , and over 10 feature and documentary films, some of which won prizes in world and international festivals. So, with the music written by Tursunbaev, the documentary "Mail" in 1972 at the XV International Film Festival , held in German Leipzig, was awarded the prize "Silver Dove". Thus, Nurkanbek Tursunbaev entered the history of Kyrgyz art as the first composer, thanks to whose work Kyrgyz music was recognized by the world community, since until the beginning of the 70s Kyrgyz music was recognized only on a union scale.

In addition, he composed about 400 melodies for songs, of which dozens participated and won prizes at union, republican and international competitions and festivals. So, the song “Saturday Night” - “Altynchy kүnү kechinda” (words by M. Aliyev) in 1974 at the world competition-festival of songs and vocalists held in Prague (Czechoslovakia) performed by singer Bulat Minzhilkiev won the grand prix. The song “Song of Geologists” - “Geologdun Yry” (words by B. Kurmankulov) in 1995 was accepted as a hymn of geologists of the Kyrgyz Mining and Metallurgical Institute named after U. Asanalieva. The song “Beloved Land” - “Sөygөn Jerim” (words by M. Alybaev) in 1997 became the anthem of the Agrarian and Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan on a competitive basis, the same song in 2007 was awarded a special diploma in the competition of patriotic songs “You Do Not Be Ill, I ready to sacrifice my Motherland! ”-“ Sen Ooruba Men Ooruyun Ata-Zhurt! ” The song “My Cuckoo” - “Kokk Kushum” (lyrics by J. Abdykalykov) in 1996 at the Republican contest became a laureate and was awarded a special prize. With the song “The Moon Floats in the Sky” - “Ai Baratat” (lyrics by A. Belekov) performed by the People's Artist of the USSR Bibigul Tulegenova , the feature film “Kanybek” (studio “Kirghizfilm”) was musically decorated. For the performance of the same well-known pop singer Yryskeldi Osmonkulov in 2001 at the International Competition held in Turkey, he won a grand prix and was awarded the Gold Medal, this success was marked by the award of the title of “Honored Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic”.

The uniqueness of Nurkanbek Tursunbaev lies in the fact that he does not have a musical education, but is a melodicist by nature, each music of which is distinguished by a special individuality, in his songs the melody is especially harmonious with the character and lyrics of the song, the melody itself is rich in national color, his songs are very far from self-repetition. The first songs of Nurkanbek Tursunbaev began to be recorded in the Golden Fund of the state television and radio company of Kyrgyzstan since 1963, which is replenished with new songs to this day. His songs were performed by the luminaries of the Kyrgyz musical art such as Artyk Myrzabaev , Gulchekhra Valiulina, Salima Bekmuratova, Kydyrbek Chodronov, Huseyn Mukhtarov , Amanbek Nurtazin , Bulat Minzhilkiev , Darika Zhalgasynova, Erkin Kasymov, Ulushybekbeka Chukbekbeka, Ulushybekbeka Chukbekbeka , of the current generation Bakyt Ybykeev, Mayram Duyshekeeva, Bakyt Shatenov, Sultan Karimov, Zamira Mavlyanova, Dilshat Kangeldieva, Asylbek Ozbekov, Kubanychbek Ashyraliev, Yryskeldi Osmonkulov, Aichurek Imanalieva, Saira Momunbaeva, Zhanylan Aisarakunova, Gulzat Bayzakova, Gulbu Oroskul kyzy, Zhyldyz Tutueva, Kunduz Karypbaeva, Nazmi Bayzakova, Gulzinat Suranchieva, Zhainagul Kalchaeva, Rayma Nurgazieva, Mamytamybayman Ulymdybayman Ulymdybayman Ulymaybaymaybayman Ulymaybaymaymaybayman Ubaymaymaybaymaybaymanu Arykbaev, Aksai Mukambetov, Gulzina Mamaev, Gulzhigit Kalykov, Nuraiym Tursunbaeva, Indira Kabylbekova, Kenzhe Abdyldabekova, Parikhan Momunova, Kalambek Makkambaev, Ularbek Nurmamat uulu, Baatyr Rysalirov, Zhengis Ayul Mysis, Aitaliev’s genre, Marziyat Usenova, young performers Alina Sagynbekova, Ayana Sovetova, Nurzhanbulat Tursunbaev, Nurkhanbolot Tursunbaev and others. His many songs were in the repertoire of the choir of the Women's Pedagogical Institute named after V. Mayakovsky under the direction of Professor Sultan Yusupov, Symphony Orchestra named after Asankan Zhumakmatov, orchestra of folk instruments. Karamoldo Orozova, National Folklore Ensemble “Kambarkan”, group “Enesai”, group “Tekir-Too named after Aitbek Mukambetov ”and others.

He made a great contribution to the development of Kyrgyz circus art, is the author and director of the first circus program “Komuzists on the Ropes” (1962), which became part of the “Young Kyrgyzstan” circus program, and the art director of the newly created circus was the Chinese Zhanybekov - Zhang - Fun -Lin. This program is one of the visiting programs of the Kyrgyz State Circus named after A.Izibaeva and more than half a century enters the world stage with great success.

As a poet, he is the author of more than 500 lyrical, patriotic poems, many of which were published in newspapers and magazines of the republic and a collection of poems was published.

He worked actively in such popular radio and television broadcasts, such as Good Morning, Theater at the Microphone, Shilo, Expert, On Monday Night, in the satirical programs And Such Are, Satire and humor ”,“ Saturday night ”,“ Your baby is a fairy tale ”and many others. He is the author of the first satirical concert program "Laugh carefully!".

As a film actor, he starred in more than 15 films, starting with the main character of the film Musa in the feature film " Jura " in 1964, as well as in films shot by film studios in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan to this day. He participated in dubbing more than 300 films.

Since childhood, he has been interested in journalism; his thematic articles are published in many newspapers and magazines of the republic.

In 2016, December 13-14 on the stage of the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic named after T. Satylganova, for the first time in the history of Kyrgyzstan, spectators witnessed a two-day theatrical and spectacular concert with the participation of Kyrgyz drama, opera and pop stars, composed only from the works of Nurkanbek Tursunbaev, and also became convinced of his acting and performing skills.

If Nurkanbek survived the death of other close relatives with restraint, then Tattybuu took the premature death in 1981 tragically and did not reconcile to this day, devoting his whole life (except his work) to glorifying the unique talent of his sister and her contribution to the development of Kyrgyz art. All events dedicated to the memory of the now great theater and film actress Tattybuu Tursunbaeva are held under the strict guidance of Nurkanbek Tursunbaev, one of the largest projects implemented is the construction of a monument of bronze in the square of the same name. T. Tursunbaeva, whose author and general sponsor is Nurkanbek Tursunbaev himself, along with Tursunbaeva's wife Dzhyparkul Aman kyzy. In addition, engaged in philanthropy annually holds a contest-festivals in support of young poets called "Tattybu in Kyrgyz poetry." For a quarter of a century, as the Republican Fund them. Tattybuu Tursunbaeva ^[3] . Annually awarded International Prizes. Tattybuu Tursunbaeva.

In 1997, he developed the author’s educational program called “The Future Generation, Know the History of the Culture of Your People!”, Which was subsequently approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic and recognized as the best educational program. From that moment, in his spare time from his main work, Tursunbaev devotes himself to this program, develops new projects within its framework and implements them in educational institutions of Kyrgyzstan, conducting a large educational work among young people.

Created the International Public Charity Fund named after Nurkanbek Tursunbaeva ”and has been engaged in charity work for many years, in support of young talents he was awarded the International Prize named after Nurkanbek Tursunbaev.

Nurkanbek subsequently became a mentor and for 50 years brought up more than one generation of musicians, actors and actresses. In addition, he was part-time artistic director of folklore, music and drama circles in higher educational institutions, secondary specialized educational institutions, and secondary professional educational institutions.

The fact that his work was not appreciated in due time, contemporaries see in his modesty and in the human factors of the theatrical world. In 1989 Tursunbaev received the Veteran of Labor medal, and in 1995 the title of Honored Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic.

For special pedagogical successes in work, he twice received the Certificate of Merit of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions of the USSR "For Special Merits in Amateur Performing Arts", twice was awarded the medal of the Central Committee of the Komsomol of the USSR and Kyrgyzstan "For Merits in Amateur Performing Arts".

According to the results of 2014-2018, the Aitmatov International Club and the Aitmatov Public Academy awarded Nurkan Tursunbaev the Chingiz Aitmatov International Prize in 2019 for the best roles in performances, films based on Aitmatov’s works ^[4] .

Nurkanbek Tursunbaev is married to Tursunbaeva Dzhyparkul Aman kyzy. They have two daughters. The eldest daughter, Eleanor, is also a pianist by profession, she also plays the komuz, the youngest daughter Nuraim from 3 years old plays the komuz, was fond of the tale of the epic "Manas", composes music, sings, and with her father she went on the big stage from an early age as actresses, participated in the performances of the main drama theater. Although by profession Nurayima subsequently chose the profession of financier and lawyer, only singing came from her work, she goes onto the big stage. The grandchildren Nurzhanbulat and Nurkhanbolot are fond of playing on the komuz and sing in the famous children's ensemble "Ak Shoola".

• Tursunbaev family site
• Information about Nurkanbek Tursunbaev on the website of the Kyrgyz Drama Theater named after Toktobolot Abdumomunov (Kyrgyz.)