02/28/2022
Khomus - mystical musical instrument...
There are several varieties of khomus, a Yakut musical instrument. In ancient times, the yakut vargan was made of wood or bone, and the prototype was a tree broken by lightning. When the wind gusts, it made mysterious sounds. In the old days, such a tree was considered sacred and its splinters were carefully preserved.
Today, the traditional Yakut khomus is made of iron. It has a horseshoe shape, consisting of a rim and two tapering "cheeks". In the middle of the rim begins a steel tongue that runs between the "cheeks".
The mystique of the Yakut khomus is that playing it requires complete concentration. Only then achieves harmony of sound, and the music is perceived not only by the ears but also the whole body. The khomus is also used for self-contemplation: when the frequency of air vibrations coincides with the vibrations of the body, one reaches complete unity with it.
The Yakut khomus is a shamanic instrument. In their rituals, shamans mostly used instruments with a low, rolling sound. It was believed that the sound of the Yakut khomus musical instrument was woven of cosmic vibrations and was an instrument linking man to the upper world.
