India, May 26 -- What aspects of Kazakh culture would you like people from other countries to know and appreciate?

Music can be a beautiful entry point for a person who is curious about another culture. I like to introduce Kazakh culture with the kobyz because it is a rare, slightly elite, stringed instrument, with a touch of mystery around it unlike the dombra, which is an instrument that everybody seems to know because of its mass appeal.

The power of the kobyz lies in its remarkable ability to put the listener in a deep, meditative state. It is so versatile. It can mimic sounds from nature like the clapping of birds' wings and the howling of wolves. Kazakhs think of the kobyz as a sacred instrument that can drive away bad spirits and...