Khomys (string instument), Khakassia

Description

Khomys (string instument)
length - 97 cm
material -  birch, elm
This is a two-string or three-string lute, related to the Altaian topshur, the Tuvan doshpulur and the Mongolian tovshuur. The Khakas people play two types of khomys: the aghas-khomys and the topchyl-khomys.
Both have a body and neck carved from cedar wood, but while the former has a sounding board from cedar wood, the body of the latter is covered with the skin of wild roe deer, domestic goat, or cattle. The traditional stringing is of twisted horsetail hair, and the strings are tuned a fourth or fifth apart; the three-string khomys is tuned a fourth plus a fifth apart.
"In Western Mongolia there is existent a legend on the development of the lute referring to a holy swan, which is why there is provided a swan head at the neck end.
Instrument makers also tell that the instrument is given its soul and spirit from nature, by lifting the lute up into the wind and waiting for it to start vibrating. The spirits of the mountain or of the wind will then have given the lute spirit and soul."