The temir komuz (sometimes temir qomuz, agiz komuzu or gubuz) can be introduced as a Kirgiz jaw harp, while the komuz is another kind of musical instrument, a 3-stringed fretless lute. Not historically but as an instrument temir komuz is unrelated to the komuz in terms of style and structure, however, it takes the name from this another instrument of the same people, which is also very widely used among them. The komuz is used by Turkic people living in the central regions of Asia e.g., Kirgiz, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Turkmens, and Uyghurs etc., and living in other regions of Asia by Azeri, Turkish, and Yakut people etc. In fact, komuz is cognate for the names of several musical instruments, used extensively by Turkic people and taking part in the music of Central Asia or the music related to there just as Kazakh kobyz (Uzbek qo'biz) (bowed instruments), the Tuvan and Sakha or Yakut xomus (a jaw harp), Azeri gopuz, Dagestan agach komus, Avar people temur, and Turkish kopuz. The oldest known komuz-like instrument dates from the 4th century although the related Azerbaijani gopuz is believed to date back to 6000 BC following an archaeologicial discovery of clay plates depicting gopuz players. In the 1960s American archeologists working in the Shushdagh mountains near the ancient city of Jygamish in southern Azerbaijan, uncovered a number of rare clay plates which dated back to around 6000 B.C. which depicted musicians at a council, holding a komuz-like instrument to their chests. The golcha gopuz was mentioned in the ancient epic Book of Dede Korkut.[1]
The temir komuz is made of iron usually with a length of 100- 200mm and with a width of approximately 2- 7mm. The range of the instrument varies with the size of the instrument, but generally hovers around an octave span. The Kirgiz people are unusually proficient on the temir komuz instrument and it is quite popular among children. However, some adults continue to play the instrument. There is a National Artist of Kirgiz Republic who performs on the instrument, temir komuz. One time twenty Kirgiz girls played in a temir komuz ensemble on the stage of the Bol' shoi Theater in Moscow. Temir komuz pieces was notated by Zataevich in two or three parts. Apparently an octave drone is possible, or even an ostinato alternating the fifth step of a scale with an octave.[2]
An interesting Kirgiz practice is a marionette play called ‘’tak-teke’’ (jumping-goat). In this, player attaches a small goat figure to a string and ties the string to his right hand. He moves the puppet skillfully while he plays the instrument temir komuz.[3] The instrument also used trough Sakha or Yakut people, and in Tuvan music with the name xomus.