OVERTONE SINGING IN TUVAShort poem from "Karmaland"- Liberodiscrivere, Italy (www.liberodiscrivere.it)TUVA OR BUST!
Sainkho Namtchylak
written 2002 december, KyzyllTuva is best!
Tuva or Bust!
Beauty or Biest!
Never then less!Cheerful and humble
Dear to dust
My wild explorers
Tuva or bustTomb of my parents
Greatfully dead
Am I Bob Dylan
In Tuvans nestRestless investigators
Spying for web space
I feel so useless
Respectless and bestTuva is best
Tuva or Bust
Beauty or Biest
Never then less.Huun-Huur-Tu
How It Started...
Ted Levin, an American ethnomusicologist who has been working in partnership with the musicians, talks about his introduction to Tuvan overtone singing in the early 80's: "I first found out about the Tuvans when the physicist Richard Feynman sent us a tape from an old record he had, from Russia, (with a note) that said, 'Thought you guys might be interested in this.' When I heard it, I was blown away. I decided then and there I had to meet the people who were making those sounds." Richard Feynman, once a participant in the Los Alamos project, was fighting cancer, and his lifetime dream was to visit the mysterious land of Tannu Tuva, the origin of the exotic stamp collection he had acquired as a youth, and to get acquainted with its musical tradition of throat singing. His heroic attempt to overcome the seemingly unending obstacles in obtaining a visa to Tuva is chronicled by his friend and drumming partner Ralph Leighton in the book 'Tuva or Bust!'. Feynman passed away early 1988, just a few weeks before the Soviet authorities agreed to issue the visa. Leighton and friends undertook the journey in honor of Richard.In the meantime, in 1987, Ted Levin became the first American to do ethnographic fieldwork in what was then the Soviet Autonomous Republic of Tuva, a sparsely settled
region of grasslands, boreal forests, and mountain ridges that lies some 2,500 miles east of Moscow, and is situated at the geographical centre of Asia, north of Mongolia. Sponsored by the National Geographic Society and the USSR Union of Composers, Levin's American-Russian-Tuvan expedition surveyed the traditional expressive culture of Tuva's sheep and reindeer herders, focusing on the musical technique of "xoomei" or throat-singing, in which a single vocalist simultaneously produces two distinct pitches: a fundamental note and, high above it, a series of articulated harmonics that are sequenced into melodies and manipulated with extreme virtuosity in several canonical styles. These field recordings became a CD released in 1990 by Smithsonian Folkways called Tuva: Voices from the Center of Asia.Traditionally, Tuvan overtone singing had been performed by soloists, each specializing in a particular style of xoomei. In 1992 Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, Alexander Bapa, his brother Sayan Bapa, and Albert Kuvezin founded the quartet Kungurtuk, as a means of concentrating on the presentation of traditional songs of their homeland. While they
devoted themselves to the preservation of these songs, their concerts have always demonstrated the significance of combining tradition and innovation. The musicians later
decided to rename the ensemble "Huun-Huur-Tu".Leighton and Levin played a central role in bringing Tuvan musicians to the US, and a
visit of members of Huun-Huur-Tu and the Tuva Ensemble (Khovalyg, Kuular, Kongar-ool Ondar) in 1993 sparked a collaboration with musicians such as Frank Zappa, Ry Cooder, the Chieftains, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, the Kronos Quartet and L. Shankar. Read all about it in the Friends of Tuva newsletter!In the course of the years two of the founding members took on different directions. Albert Kuvezin became more involved as a vocalist on the frontiers between folk, avant-garde and rock, and founded the group Yat-Kha. Anatoli Kuular took his place, and has added to the sound of the quartet with his unique 'borbangnadyr' singing style, and his instrumental expertise on the mouth harp (xomuz) and the byzaanchi. The ensemble percussionist Alexander Bapa left the group after his decision to focus on producing, and now he resides in Moscow, where he manages the Tuvan group Chirgilchin. Bapa was replaced by the young Alexei Saryglar, a talented percussionist, sygyt singer and string instrumentalist.Huun-Huur-Tu has an extensive tour record in the States, Europe and Japan, and makes
its debut in Australia in 1999. While intent on preserving the Tuvan musical heritage, they also recognize the need for vitality and "room to move" in the performance of traditional music. This has inspired musical collaboration with Angelite, the Bulgarian Women's Choir, under the direction of Mikhail Alperin; also with Sergei Starostin who worked with the ensemble on "If I'd Been Born an Eagle" to emphasize the relationship between older Russian and Tuvan music; and finally the Scottish- Canadian collaboration with Niall MacAulay and guest artists on their latest album "Where Young Grass Grows".Tyva Kyzy's fimale overtone singing group from Tuva
Daughters of Tuva"Tyva Kyzy" ("Daughters of Tyva") is the first and for the moment the only women's group in Tyva that performs all styles of Tyvan throat-singing. This form of multiple tone harmonic singing has however been practiced mostly by men and prohibited for women. The members of Tyva Kyzy dared to perform publicly this ancient art of singing in their own unique "feminine" style. "... And right there, you have one of two essential facts about Tyva Kyzy, "Daughters of Tuva" — they are not men, but rather five (with instrumentalist Ayana Mongush) of Tuva's 50 women throat singers, and only female professional group.The other important — and statistically improbable — thing to know about Tyva Kyzy is that they are the best. When you listen to European throat singers, Mongolians or Tuvan men, after the initial amazement of hearing numerous overtones and two simultaneous pitches, interest tends to lag. These rare women throat singers go far beyond novelty and shock value. They are outstanding musicians.Choduraa Tumat, the group's leader and star, hits the high-C equivalent sygyt — a powerful, whistle-like overtone — while maintaining kargyraa, the low, rumbling, four-note fundamental, shifting seamlessly into khoomei, the multiple-note, multiple-tone sound...and does so with elegance and melodic beauty.There are some Mongolian throat singers performing with as much lyricism and humor as Tyva Kyzy, but I haven't heard any better. (Tuvans are often confused with Mongolians, but in fact, they are Turkic, ethnically different, and even a small Tuvan enclave — the tsengel Tuvans — within Mongolia exists in strict separation.) Throat singing or "just singing," the Daughters of Tuva are special every way. The group also performed in Berkeley and Santa Cruz last week. See www.tyvakyzy.com. Adventures in Sound.One by one, four young, tiny women took their turn Thursday night in the SF Asian Art Museum's jam-packed Samsung Hall. One by one — clad in ancient and exotic outfits of leather and silk — each sang soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, a bit of didgeridoo . . . and then all at the same time. It was throat singing at its stupefying best, voices like light seen through a prism, like water squirting from a constricted hose...."Republic of TUVA Republic of Tuva is country situated in the very heart of Central Asia. Territory of Tuva is 170.000 square kilometers, the population of 198.000 tuva people, 308,000 inhabitants, 73 different nationalities are leaving in Tuva.Territory of Tuva does into the Altay-Sayan mountain region. About 82 per cent of it territory is occupied by mountains & 18 per cent- by flat country. The highest peak of Tuva & whole East Siberia is the mountains-mass Mongun-Taiga (translated Silver Taiga). Its rises to height 3.976 meter above sea level. The Todzha & Tuvinian hollows & the northern part of the Ubsu-Nur hollows lie on the height of 520 -1,200 meters. Tuva had long history of connections with different cultures like: Uygurs, Turks, Kyrgysshinese, Mongols. Now republic of Tuva is part of Russian Federation. Bound on the north with Krasnoyarsk region & Khakkassian Republic, in the south with Mongolia & on the west with Altay-Mauntain Republic. One of three biggest rivers of Siberia Yenisey is born in Tuva & it is formed by confluence of the rivers Bee-Hem & Kaa-Hem.Its length from confluence to the ocean is 3,354 km. Bee-hem has many tributarys: Toora-Hem, Hamsara, Sistig-Hem, Tapsa. Kaa-Hem river is starting on the nothern territory of Mongolia. Climate of Tuva is continental. Winter is longest season of a year. Temperature in january is 30 to 40 degrees centigrade below zero. Spring is short, May temperature reaches 20 degrees above zero in the afternoon & can be at night zero degree centigrade. Summer is very hot it can reach level of more then 30 degree centigrade above zero, but often heat is ballanced by short & strong thunder storm or rain. Autumn is is short & dry. It is most beautiful time of the year just at the end of october or beginning of November winter begins again in Tuva. Through the ages Tuvans have been keeping nomadic way of life, moving from one campsite to another in order to feed their livestock. Therefor the basic dwelling of Tuvans has been their yurt -a round collapsable house made from a wooden framework and covered with felt, this houses was very easy to transport during migrations.In last 50 years life in Tuva has been changed greatly, wooden houses & concrete blocks of apartments have replaced traditional yurts, but there are still Tuvans who posses their own yurts outside of Kyzyl, Capital town of Tuva. Kyzyl is small town with a population of more then 90.000 inhabitants. Stone & iron monument at the Yenisey river in Kyzyl has carved note "Centre of Asia".Tuvan arts has been forming during many centuries & has developed into bright & original forms. Works of Tuvan masters made from a stone, wood, metal, leather. From generation to generation Tuva people have carefully kept creativity, folklore & musical culture. Legends &
fairy tales praised love for mother land, native nature, aspiration to freedom & happy life. In 1936 the first theatre studio was founded & in 1940 it was reorganised into the musical-drama theatre which has produced classical works of the world, Tuna & Russian dramaturgy.Chime (throat singing) is unique art of Central Asian people, characterised by producing two or three distinct sounds at the same time. Tuva throat singers- khoomeizy are famous all over the world. Such groups as "Huun-Huur-Tu", "Chirgilchin", "Tyva Kyzy", "Changys Khaya" & others have traveled to many countries & have gained peoples love & admiration for their talent. Nowadays interest in this brilliant art is growing & various international festivals & symposiums of khöömei are occasionally held in Tuva.Sports are very popular in Tuva. Traditional Tuvan sports are wrestling (huresh, horse races (aat charyzy), chess ( shydyra), tevek or kazyk. All national holidays like Shagaa & Naadym are celebrated with these sport festivities.Usually 64 wrestlers take part in a wrestling competition. They come from all regions of Tuva & Mongolia. At the end of competition the
strongest wrestlers are given such honoured titles as Chaan (Elephant), Arzilan (Tiger), Nachin (Hero). The winner of every match performs the eagle-dance, like an eagle circling in the air. The Tuvan Buddhist New Year holiday- Shagaa is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. Mostly in january or february. Shagaa is a big family celebration with different religious rituals, ceremonies, visits to relatives & lots of eating. In the middle of august Tuvan people celebrate another national holiday- Naadim with its 3 main sports - wrestling, horse racing.Lamaism is a form of Tibetan Buddhism brought to Tuva by Tibetan & Mongolian monks, in the XVII century & has been practiced by tuvans since then. There is representatives of other religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism in Tuva. Shamanism is the ancient traditional belief system of the Tuvan people has been passed down from ancestors as the most valuable spiritual gift of the past.The myths of Tuvan shamanism are the greatest achievement of national thought in the Centre of Asia. The summary of shamanist myths for example about the white sky is such that presents by itself a light & life-giving beginning, and that's why it is worded as "kyshyning adazy", literally- mans father. The white sky gives light, warmth, rain or snow, "sut deg ak deer"- white sky is male's beginning. As an illustration here is one myth about the sky, taken from the narrator Sotpaa Sat in 1944.
"In this world all plants & human beings have their father & mother, the deity created it in this way.
The Man's Father is the sky, this how they say.
From the very beginning the sky was Man's Father. so people say."
The roots of myths about land or Man's Mother go to pagan antiquity. The main character of these myths is "cher". the earth. Her is one more example of myths written down from the words of Sotpaa Sat:
"One upon a time when the plain thing used to float by like the wind, the round thing used to roll by like a ball, then three storms were raging in this world. First the fire storm had blazed & covered all world with flames. Then the water spout souses the overflow & gained a victory over the fire storm & thereby put out the fire, so they say. Finally the tempest began & razed to the high mountain of Sumber-Uula. The speck-Earth having emerged from the Sumber-Uula Taiga, which the tempest had destroyed, crushed the water-spout & dried out
the overflow. People say, the tempest was creating this world. In the place of the tempest rivers, mountains, valley, seas & man kind appeared. so they say.Since that time the father-sky & the mother-earth coexist & can not live without each other. If the fire of the white sky goes & heavenly drop vanishes, then all the alive things & beings on the earth will perish..." Such is the symbolic of the myths about the sky & the earth or about
"Man's father" & "Man's mother".Of great vitality is the cult notion of shamanist myths. Up till now every tuvan of old age pronounces the following grace, making offer of fresh tea to the ghost of the Earth:
"Mother-Earth, I beg you to give me some happiness.
Mother Earth, I beg you to present me with luck.
Mother-Earth, I beg you to protect & take care of my children.
Mother-Earth, I beg you to protect my all home & native".
For more information look at these web sites:www.feynman.com
www.tuvaonline.ru
www.huunhuurtu.com
www.tuvaorbust.com
www.tyvakyzy.com