Saly and Sere The Kazakh noble people didn’t like «salys» and «seres» calling them buffoons and cheap jugglers. In reality the singers of the «saly» and «sere» types were in the conditions of pre-Revolutionary Kazakhstan bright representatives of the song and poetry. They dressed originally, with taste. Their unusual accoutrements irritated the steppe bosses. In our times a modern opera singer while going to tour takes with himself his performing costumes. The «salys» and «seres» didn’t have such opportunity. They performed in auls, in the steppe, at the fairs and bazaars. They always had on their performing costumes and this unusual smartness distinguished them outwardly from the common people. The people loved «salys» and «seres» they met exclusive respect and honour. They were the darlings of the Kazakh public. Young women and girls held their horses by the bridle when they came and when they left, chosen beauties themselves handed them cups of tea, «salys» and «seres» were allowed to pass behind the shymyldyk - the partition behind which the bride sat. «Salys» and «seres» were artists in the true meaning of this word. They always were in the centre of attention, in everybody’s view, they were devoted to art. In the people’s memory a special place is occupied by such creative personalities like Birzhan-sal and Akhan-sere.