NURGISA TLENDIEV’S CREATIVE HERITAGE IN FORMING THE NATIONAL IDENTITY OF KAZAKHSTANI POPULAR MUSIC (TO THE COMPOSER’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY)

Abstract

This article focuses on the creative legacy of Nurgisa Tlendiyev in the context of shaping the national identity of Kazakhstani popular music. The subject of the study is the composer’s role in integrating traditional musical thinking with modern pop culture and the influence of his musical language on the development of collective artistic consciousness. The article is dedicated to the centenary of the maestro and centers on his vocal heritage as a key source for sustaining cultural continuity. The purpose of the study is to explore Tlendiyev’s work as a foundation for constructing national identity in Kazakh popular music. This is substantiated through the analysis of songs such as “Öz elim” and “Kua bol,” which had a powerful impact on shaping patriotic and spiritual values in the public consciousness. Special attention is also paid to the performance interpretations of these vocal works by Tlendiyev’s contemporaries (e.g., N. Nusipzhanov, B. Samedinova) and younger singers,
which confirms the relevance and vitality of his music across generations. The national character of Kazakhstan pop music, as laid by Tlendiyev, continues to this day. The article’s methodology combines cultural, musicological, and media approaches. The results demonstrate that the composer not only continued the tradition of sal-seri, but also laid the foundation of Kazakhstan pop-music by blending national melodic intonation with modern arrangement techniques. The findings may be applied in music education, cultural policy, research in musicology, and national branding strategies.