Music and song in the Dashoguz velayat are inextricably linked with the work of the bagshy. The unique bagshy Museum in Dashoguz also promotes this tradition. Among the exhibits chronicling the creative paths of famous bagshy are those that tell the story of Bally Matgeldiyev, who made a significant contribution to the development of the local performance school.

Bally Matgeldiyev (1934-2012) was born and lived in what is now the Akdepe etrap. He was a prominent member of a family dynasty of musicians. His father and grandfather were renowned gyjak players in the area. Interestingly, Bally also followed in their footsteps as a child and mastered the secrets of playing the gyjak, although he already knew and could perform folk songs and destans well.

According to one of Bally Matgeldiyev's students, B. Haknazarov, director of the Dashoguz-based bagshy Museum, the legendary Magtymguly Garlyyev, who noticed the young performer's talent and influenced his subsequent creative path, contributed to Bally's development as a bagshy.

Having received such a master's blessing, Bally was simply obliged to master the art of bagshy. Thanks to his hard work and talent, and his exploration of the genre richness and stylistic diversity of this form of song and music, Bally Matgeldiyev became one of the region's most distinguished and distinctive bagshy.

Admirers remember his superb performances of the destans «Yusup-Ahmet», «Shasenem-Garyp», episodes from the destan «Gorogly», and the songs «Bibi», «Oyan indi», «Balsayat», «Boy-Boy», and others.

«Last year, we held a major creative event dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of the folk bagshy of Turkmenistan, Bally Matgeldiyev», says B. Haknazarov, director of the Dashoguz bagshy Museum. It's worth noting that many of Bally Matgeldiyev's children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps and became renowned bagshy and musicians.

It's worth noting that the art of bagshy, along with other specialties, is currently taught to young men and women in the region at the specialised arts school named after M. Garlyyev in the Dashoguz Velayat. Many of its graduates are now followers of the work of such destan storytellers and musicians as Magtymguly Garlyyev, Nazar-baga, Ore Shyh, Akjagul Myradova, and Sulgun Meretgeldiyeva, successfully continuing their performing traditions.