What Americans Know About Throat Singing

[That Was Jonathan E. Then]

Some of us can't get enough throat singing. Others find it not so enchanting.

This link is for those in the first group:

http://www.scs-intl.com/trader/frameload.htm?/trader/cd_new_arrivals.shtm

Clicking on the Tuvan Music folder on the left of the screen will reveal a further choice of Tuvan music, most of which I guarrantee you is not to be found in the rapidly disappearing record stores of England's high streets — and most certainly not in the ghastly emporiums of America's malls. And I suspect, but have not ascertained, on Amazon, either UK or US.

There is something of a cult over here, at least on the west coast, over throat singing. Much of it is due, I think, to the Genghis Blues film (and subsequent album), which is marvelous and I urge you to view if you can. It's somewhat Buena Vista Social Club-like in its appeal, the redemption thing, but much funkier. Not due to the music so much as the whole social milieu. Paul Pena, the American, who travels to Tuva and wins some big festival, had a bit of an underground reputation not only as the writer of "Fly Like An Eagle," the Steve Miller hit, but as a player way back in the Haight-Ashbury. He died a few years after the filming and was obviously not well at the time, but the man was full of musical joy. Hey! You may even get to like throat singing!

[Dayna]

I think I might have heard this on the World 2002 CD with Yat-Kha. They were kind of pretty.

[Dominic]

I think I might have heard this on the World 2002 CD with Yat-Kha. They were kind of pretty.

I love Yat-Kha, but I wouldn't call them pretty! Check track 12 on the debut CD, Yenesei Punk for the most extreme throat singing ever (not the first time I've recommended this track on this forum!):
http://www.sternsmusic.com/disk_info.php?id=GMCD9504

Yat-Kha website: http://www.yat-kha.com

[Dayna]

I guess they aren't exactly pretty.


It's kind of interesting & might be better once I get used to it.

[That Was Jonathan E. Then]

However, much throat singing is rather pretty and is imitating the sounds of nature out on the steppes. Yat Kha's Beldiri is a pretty awesome mix of the pretty with the sublime and an all-round interesting sonic experience. But not as traditional as most of the CDs available on the Tuvan Trader site are.

I forgot to mention that another reason, a prime reason, there is such a throat singing cult on the west coast is because of Richard Feynman, notorious and eminent physicist and adventurer, who became obsessed with all things Tuvan in the late 1980s (as I recall) and exposed various aspects of Tuvan culture to his large circle of friends and acquaintances in the Bay Area. Perhaps he wrote a book; off the top of my head I don't recall all the details. Certainly, throat singing had a higher profile there than most places earlier than most places. Probably still does.

[Dominic]

There was always someone else in Yat-Kha to contrast with Albert's bass voice and rock guitar. Until recently this role was filled by Radik Tyulyush, who also used to perform with Huun-Huur-Tu. He is now performing as a solo artist with part of his repertoire, as you say, imitates the sounds of nature out on the steppes.

He had a CD on sale at recent performances, but I'm not sure where else you can get them. I'll check my copy & report back.

Nor can I find anything by Radik on YouTube, which is a shame as it would be a nice way to celebrate his birthday on New Year's Day.

Here's a link to his MySpace page - http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=214692823

[richardh]

Tuva or Bust! Richard Feynman's Last Journey by Ralph Leighton is the account by Feynman's fellow enthusiast. As I recall, the genesis of his fascination with all things Tuvan was a series of attractive and intriguing postage stamps which he collected as a child.

[Dayna]

I know I loved the song I heard by Sainkho Namtchylak, called Dance of Eagle. It says on the CD that she is Tuvan. But I don't think she is a throat singer.

[Dominic]

I know I loved the song I heard by Sainkho Namtchylak, called Dance of Eagle. It says on the CD that she is Tuvan. But I don't think she is a throat singer.

I reckon that throat singing forms just part of her style.

Here's an extract from the biography on (what appears to be) her official website:
"Completing music college Ippolotova-Ivanova I continue my studies in Gnesin Institute in Moscow. At that time my big interest was about discovering recordings and books or dissertations about different techniques of singing in archaic examples of cult music of lamaistic and shamanistic traditions of Siberia, as well as Tuvan and Mongolian throat- and overtone singing styles."

[Dominic]

Tuva or Bust! Richard Feynman's Last Journey by Ralph Leighton is the account by Feynman's fellow enthusiast. As I recall, the genesis of his fascination with all things Tuvan was a series of attractive and intriguing postage stamps which he collected as a child.

From "the postage stamps of Tuva - http://www.si-usa.com/tuva/
Yat-Kha CD sleeve

[That Was Jonathan E. Then]

I've remembered that there used to be "Tuva Or Bust" bumperstickers on cars (the pre-SUV era) all over the Bay Area for a time. I suppose in the late 1980s. Feynman himself died in 1988, I have now learnt by doing the most elementary research. So, some of this interest in throat singing might be his legacy.

[pirkko]

Until recently this role was filled by Radik Tyulyush, who also used to perform with Huun-Huur-Tu. He is now performing as a solo artist with part of his repertoire, as you say, imitates the sounds of nature out on the steppes.

He had a CD on sale at recent performances, but I'm not sure where else you can get them. I'll check my copy & report back.

Nor can I find anything by Radik on YouTube, which is a shame as it would be a nice way to celebrate his birthday on New Year's Day.

I wonder if it is Radik Tyulyush performing here with Huun-Huur-Tu:
http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=GXNrs1dS9 ... re=related

Since I don't know so much (hardly anything) of Tuvan music and musicians, can't be sure.

Tuva-Online:
http://en.tuvaonline.ru/

[Dominic]

I wonder if it is Radik Tyulyush performing here with Huun-Huur-Tu:
http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=GXNrs1dS9 ... re=related

Yes, that's Radik, sitting slightly apart, playing the flute and singing.

[pirkko]

I wonder if it is Radik Tyulyush performing here with Huun-Huur-Tu:
http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=GXNrs1dS9 ... re=related

Yes, that's Radik, sitting slightly apart, playing the flute and singing.

I found, I think, his russian blog, birthday mentioned there is 25 June:
http://blogs.mail.ru/mail/tyulyushradik/