Alrexander Prokopyev

Alexander Yakovlevich Prokopyev is a jaw harp maker from Yakutsk. In the late 1980s, Roman Gotovtsev, then working at the Sardaana Souvenir Factory in Yakutsk, became his apprentice; by that time Prokopyev already had twenty years of experience. In 1989, Gotovtsev received an inventor’s certificate for a Yakut children’s khomus. This episode illustrates Prokopyev’s role not only as a maker of his own instruments, but also as a mentor within the professional community of jaw harp makers in Yakutia.

Prokopyev’s work has been represented in the specialist Oberton Pro catalogue since at least 2009. His designs did not remain static: the khomuses documented in 2011 had more substantial frames, while a decorative plate appeared on the ring, reminiscent of the decoration on instruments by Revoriy Chemchoev and Ivan Khristoforov. This reflected the evolution of an original modern design rather than the simple reproduction of a single traditional model.

The Prokopyev models documented in the catalogue differ considerably in size, mechanics and tonal character. The early large Prokopyev khomus combined a soft reed, a rumbling sound and responsiveness to different playing techniques, although fast two-way playing required precise strikes. His other instruments range from the compact Billyakh-Basa to the 110 mm Alyisardakh and differ in gap widths, stiffness, background noise and preferred striking technique. The properties of the particular model therefore matter more than any attempt to reduce all of Prokopyev’s khomuses to a single “signature” sound.

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