Tuvan throat singing

[lethargic_man]

A few years ago, whilst browsing CDs in a charity shop, I came across the album Tuva.Rock by the group Yat-Kha. As the name implies, the album is a fusion of traditional Tuvan music and western rock, with the emphasis varying between them; I recalled vaguely hearing about it when it first came out. Since the whole concept of Tuvan throat singing, in which it is possible to sing two notes at the same time, intrigued me (and since the CD was going for a pound or so), I bought it.

When I listened to it, I was disappointed to discover it didn't seem to contain any singing multiple notes at the same time. Whilst there were bits with higher harmonics audible, most of it is sung in what I now know is kargyraa mode, which is an extremely deep, croaky, singing style.

Last night, spotting the album on my shelf, I decided to go off to (or through) Wikipedia and listen to some throat singing which did involve singing two notes at the same time. Going back to Tuva.Rock afterwards, I discovered it did after all feature small amounts of this throat-singing mode. All I can guess is that, the singing being wordless, I must have failed to realise the upper line was actually being produced by a human being!

Have a listen to this piece of (traditional, not Yat-Kha) throat singing. Isn't it incredible, or what?

Comments

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

Yes, it sounds good. It is sounds like something mongolic or another native people.

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I followed your link and it said that this singing is coming from nomadic people in Central Asia. It includes many countries (mostly former soviet countries) also a part of Mongolia. I was not completely wrong then.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

It's Tuvan. Tuva is a small autonomous republic in the Russian Federation, at the geographical centre of Asia. (There's a monument in the capital, Kyzyl, saying it's at the centre of Asia.)

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I did not know that Tuva is a place. Now I know. Thanks.