Sh. Kaldayakov, the king of the Kazakh waltz, was awarded the highest degree of distinction
For outstanding services in the development of the musical art of the Kazakh people, by the decree of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Shamshi Kaldayakov was awarded the highest degree of distinction – the title of “Kazakhstannyn Enbek Yeri”, a special distinction – the Golden Star and the Order of “Otan” – to the composer (posthumously).
The author of many lyrical songs “Ak sunkarym” (My white falcon), “Kara koz” (Black eyes), “Kaiykta” (In the boat), “Ak bow”, “Ak mandaylym”. The composer’s creative baggage includes 55 songs. Each song has its own history: “Kyz sagynyshy” is dedicated to Mayra Aimanova, “Tamdy aruy” (Beauty from Tamdy) to the words of Kadyr Myrzaliev – to the Kazakhs in Uzbekistan, many songs “Ak erke – Ak zhayyk”, “Syr suluy” (Beauty of the Syrdarya) , “Arys zhagasynda” (On the bank of the Arys), “Arailym ak Keles” – were born after traveling around the country.
Many of his songs were popular: “Kuanysh valsi” (Waltz of joy), “Kaidasyn” (Where are you), “Bakyt kushagynda” (In the arms of happiness). The audience liked the combination of waltz motifs and steppe songs-tales, but it was for this that he was expelled from the conservatory in 1959 with the wording “for wrong harmony.” He was restored again, but never graduated from the conservatory, although in the intervals between exiles Shamshi managed to complete two courses at the Faculty of Journalism of the Kazakh State University.
The composer’s songs were performed by almost all the singers of Kazakhstan from the master of the 50s Rishat Abdullin to modern youth, and, of course, all the people sang. But the country’s most popular composer never became a member of the Union of Composers. He was not approved for the title of a member of the Union of Composers of Kazakhstan three times, since one of the conditions was a conservatory education. This title of Shamshi was given only after his death – already in the years of independence. And the title of People’s Artist of the Republic was awarded to him two months before his death, having learned about his serious illness.
He died on February 29, 1992, was buried at the Kensai cemetery in Alma-Ata.