THE ADDRESS TO USERS

The CD-ROM «Musical heritage of Kazaksta» is the first experience of the National Library of the Republic Kazakstan (NLRK) in the manufacture of a multimedia product. It is implemented through the joint project of the NLRK and UNESCO Representation in Almaty.
The musical fond of NLRK numbers about 23 thousand gramophone records, 9 thousand of that represent Kazak musical culture. The songs of the great poet, philosopher, enlightener and composer Abai and the great people’s composer Zhayau Musa performed by the best singers of Kazak folk songs Zh.Yelebekov and M.Erzhanov are the pride of the local lore recordings’ fond. For the connoisseurs of art the National library introduces the Kazak folk music, classics, masterpieces of symphonic music, theatrical performances, lectures on art study, art workers’ performances, fairy-tales, music of the peoples of Kazakstan, popular music. There are in the fond unique records of the famous singers Amre Kashaubaev and Kulyash Baiseitova from the 1925-1927 archives in the library collections. At present the collection of phonorecords is precious owing to the «golden voices» of Kanabek Baiseitov, Bibigul Tulegenova, Roza Baglanova, Yermek Serkebayev, Alibek Dnishev and others. The National Library of RK initiated the creation of the series of CD-ROMs «Musical heritage of Kazakstan» from the library collections. The UNESCO representation in Almaty rendered technical and consultant assistance to the given project. Thus is attained the aim of stage by stage information transference from the gramophone records on to digital carriers and promotion of Kazakstani musical art popularisation in the country and abroad. For the given CD-ROM 60 musical compositions were chosen and recorded, representing all the genres of musical culture. Concise biographic information is given about the composers, performers and researchers. The CD-ROM also contains articles about the Kazak national instruments, about young talents, and also the legends and the history of the creation of some individual musical compositions, the CD-ROM is provided with the list of literature used and the defining dictionary on Kazak words. The musical compositions from the private collections of performers with world-wide fame such as Zhanya Aubakirova, Aiman Musakhodjaeva and Marat Bisengaliev are also included into this CD-ROM. The National Library of RK is grateful to the UNESCO Representation in Almaty, in particular to the Head of the Representation Mr.H.Sequeira; Mr.S.Karpov, the telematics assistant; the multimedia trainers N.Semenchenko and Ye.Kapustin for the technical equipment, the training of librarians in multimedia technology and active participation in the creation of the CD-ROM.
NLRK also is grateful to Kurmangazy Almaty state conservatory, in particular to the candidate on art criticism, teacher G.B.Abdrakhman for the consultation and introductory article «Kazak musical culture», and also to the Conservatory library manager A.T.Ertazina for the assistance rendered in the material selection.
We also express our thanks to the Director of IREX Representation in Central Asia, Mr Gavin Helf, who rendered invaluable assistance in the editing of the English version of the CD-ROM.
The CD-ROM creators:
The author of the idea and the leader of the project - R.A.Berdigalieva, Director General of NLRK, Honoured Worker of RK, Candidate of science (history), Associate Member of Informatisation Academy, President of LARK
The selection of musical compositions and musical consultation - E.N.Obaev, professor, People’s Artist of RK, deputy minister of the Committee on culture (The Ministry of culture, press and public consent of RK)
The instructor of the project group -N.A.Mukanova, head of the NLRK INTERNET Sector
The text compilers - N.A.Mukanova, K.Aimukhambetova, G.Kh.Balabekova.
The digitalisation of musical compositions -S.Zh.Uisinbaeva.
The   selection   and   digitalisation   of   the
illustrations - K.S.Asanova.
The translation of the texts: A.T.Batyrgereeva (Kaz.), R.B.Yelekenova (Eng.), Zh.Stambekova (Eng.), K.Zh.Bozymbekov (Eng.), and G.Helf (Eng.).
The editors of the texts: N.A.Mukanova, G.Kh.Balabekova, A.T.Batyrgereeva, and S.A.Tasybaeva.
The technical consultants and programme implementation          of         the          CD-ROM:
N.V.Semenchenko, Ye.I.Kapustin - multimedia trainers.