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- From: kerryy@bnr.ca (Kerry Yackoboski)
- Newsgroups: alt.culture.tuva,alt.answers,news.answers
- Subject: alt.culture.tuva FAQ Version 1.30 [1 of 1]
- Supersedes: <5vr79r$7me@bmerhc5e.bnr.ca>
- Followup-To: alt.culture.tuva
- Date: 20 Oct 1997 02:53:45 GMT
- Organization: Northern Telecom (Nortel)
- Lines: 1216
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
- Expires: Wed, 19 October 1997 00:00:00 GMT
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- Reply-To: kerryy@nortel.ca
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- Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked
- Questions (and their answers) about the culture of
- the Lost Land of Tannu Tuva, an actual country in
- the centre of Asia. It should be read by anyone
- who wishes to post to the alt.culture.tuva newsgroup.
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu alt.culture.tuva:3398 alt.answers:29743 news.answers:114980
-
- Archive-name: tuva-faq
- Posting-Frequency: monthly
- Last-modified: 1997/10/19
- Version: 1.30
-
- Anyone wishing to take a shot at improving this should go ahead and send
- the edited section along to me <kerryy@nortel.ca>. Thanks to Bernard
- Greenberg [BSG] for his numerous additions and edits and to Bernard
- Dubriel [BD], Alan Shrives [AS], Kevin Williams [KW], Albert Kuvezin
- [AK], Dr Oliver Corff [OC], Mike Vande Bunt [MVB], and Ralph Leighton
- [RL] for their additions to the music and books sections.
-
- Alt.culture.tuva FAQ Version 1.30 (October 19, 1997)
- ======================================================
-
- Table of Contents:
- ==================
-
- 1: How can I get a copy of this Frequently Asked Questions list?
- 2. Are there any WWW sites for Tuva?
- 3: What's a Tuva?
- 4: What is all the fuss about?
- 5: What's this about two voices from one singer?
- 6: Where can I find out more? (Friends of Tuva)
- 7: Any recommended reading about Tuva?
- 8: Any recommended reading about Feynman?
- 9: Are audio recordings available?
- 10: Are there any video tapes about Tuva?
- 11: Does anyone still collect the old Tuvan stamps?
- 12: What can you tell me about travel to Tuva?
- 13: How can I learn to sing khoomei?
-
- Questions and Answers:
- ======================
-
- 1: How can I get a copy of this Frequently Asked Questions list?
- A: You're reading it, aren't you? :-) Save it! The FAQ is posted
- monthly to the Usenet newsgroup alt.culture.tuva. The latest
- version is also available online at the Friends of Tuva WWW site
- (see below for the location).
-
-
-
- 2. Are there any WWW sites for Tuva?
- A: You have your choice!
- Try either the Friends of Tuva site at
- http://www.feynman.com/tuva/
- or the Tuvan Hillbilly's site at
- http://darwin.clas.virginia.edu/~rmw8w/
- or Michael Connor's Tuvan rafting trip site at
- http://www.itp.tsoa.nyu.edu/~student/connor/tuva/rafting.html
-
- The first one has all of the old Friends of Tuva Newsletters, along
- with all kinds of neat stuff like the HTML version of this FAQ and
- numerous photos. The second one has some pictures of Tuva and
- Kyzyl. The third one features photos from a rafting trip to Tuva in
- the summer of 1995.
-
- There is information on the Tuvan singing group "Yat-Ha" and Tuva at
- http://www.eunet.fi/gmc/womad/yat.html. There is also a site with
- some information about Richard Feynman at
- http://www.photosynthesis.com/SoundPhotosynthesis/html/feynman.html,
- and the Mongolia Society is now online at
- http://www.bluemarble.net/~mitch/monsoc.html .
-
- For information on the WWW (World Wide Web), check out
- newsgroup comp.infosystems.www.
-
-
-
- 3: What is Tuva?
- A: The Republic of Tuva is the former Tannu Tuva, a country in south
- Siberia absorbed by the former USSR in 1944. Tuva was at one time
- an oblast of Russia, and then the Tuvinskaya ASSR, and is now a
- member of the Russian Federation.
-
- Tuva is an area arguably in the centre of Asia, nestled just north
- of Mongolia between the Sayan mountains in the north and the Tannu
- Ola mountains in the south, with a population of 308,000 (about 64
- percent Tuvan and about 32 percent Russian). The capital city of
- Kyzyl (pronounced stressing the second syllable) (population 75,000)
- lies at the junction of two rivers that go on to form the Jenissei
- River.
-
- Tuva was known under its Mongol name of Uriankhai until 1922 and
- deserves interest for the fact that it was twice annexed by Russia
- within 30 years without the world paying the slightest attention.
- The first annexation came in 1914 when when Russia proclaimed Tuva a
- protectorate of Russia, and the second time was in 1944 when the
- People's Republic of Tuva was transformed into an administrative
- unit of the USSR.
-
-
-
- 4: What is all the fuss about?
- A: In 1977 Nobel Laureate (Physics) and raconteur Richard Feynman asked
- "What ever happened to Tannu Tuva?" One of his friends, Ralph
- Leighton, helped Feynman turn their search for information on this
- country into a real adventure, as explained in Leighton's book "Tuva
- or Bust". Feynman's interest originated in the 1930's when Tuva, in
- a philatelic orgy, issued many oddball stamps memorable for their
- shapes (diamonds and triangles) as well as their scenery (men on
- camels racing trains, men on horseback hunting with airplanes above
- them, etc.).
-
- When they looked Tuva up in the atlas, they saw that the capital was
- Kyzyl, and decided that any place with a name like that must be
- interesting! They also soon found out that a monument near Kyzyl
- marked the centre of Asia, and that some Tuvans sang with 2 voices -
- one voice usually a lower drone and the second voice a high pitched
- flute-like sound, both from the same person. This information
- piqued their curiosity and things snowballed.
-
-
-
- 5: What's this about two voices from one singer?
- A: It's called ``khoomei'', or throat singing, and numerous CD's are
- available. This is not unique to Tuva - singers come from Mongolia
- as well, and the Tantric Gyuto Monks of Tibet (now living in India),
- also practice this two-note singing in their chanting. They also
- have several recordings available.
-
-
-
- 6: Where can I find out more (Friends of Tuva)?
- A: Friends of Tuva is an organization headquartered in Pasadena,
- California, founded and run by Ralph Leighton. It is a central
- clearing-house for information about Tuva and Tuva-related
- merchandise.
-
- Write to:
-
- Friends of Tuva
- Box 182,
- Belvedere, CA 94920, USA
- phone or FAX (415) 789-1177
-
- By sending two or three self-addressed, stamped envelopes to FoT you
- can receive their newsletter. FoT also has a variety of wonderful
- things for sale, including many of the recordings and videos listed
- here (recordings, books, maps, etc.). The goods are very reasonably
- priced, and anyone seeking to learn more about Tuva and things Tuvan
- would do well to subscribe to the newsletters. The newsletters and
- the Tuvan Trader (a list of items for sale) have also been posted to
- alt.culture.tuva.
-
-
-
- 7: Any recommended reading about Tuva?
- A: Send your suggestions. Here's what I've found.
-
- 1 - Tuva or Bust!
- Ralph Leighton.
- W.W. Norton, 1991.
-
- The canonical work. Describes Feynman and Leighton's
- decade-long struggle to reach Tuva. Semi-related works are
- ``Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!'' and ``What Do You Care
- What Other People Think?'', both by Richard Feynman (with Ralph
- Leighton).
-
- 2 - Journey to Tuva
-
- Otto Ma"nchen-Helfen, extensively annotated and translated from
- German to English by Alan Leighton.
- Ethnographics Press, University of Southern California, 1931/1992
-
- Available from Friends of Tuva. A great book detailing the
- visit of a Westerner in 1929. Contains an appendix about
- present day Tuva and a map.
-
- 3 - Nomads of Eurasia
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
- University of Washington Press, 1989.
-
- This book accompanied the museum exhibit "Nomads: Masters of
- the Eurasian Steppe" in 1989-1990. Great pictures and text.
-
- 4 - Nomads of South Siberia
- Sevyan Vainshtein, translated by Michael Colenso
- Cambridge University Press, 1980.
-
- Wow. The detail is impressive as the author examines Tuvan
- nomadic life.
-
- 5 - In Search of Genghis Khan
- Tim Severin, Arrow Books, 1992.
-
- The author joins a horseback expedition to trace the steps of
- Genghis Khan from Mongolia to Europe in 1990. An intriguing
- foray into the life of the modern Mongolian nomad, with many
- details that may frighten prospective visitors to the region.
-
- 7 - The Peoples of the Soviet Far East
- Walter Kolarz, published by Frederick Praeger of New York, 1954.
-
- 8 - The Tuvan Manual
- John Krueger, available from the Mongolia Society, 322 Goodbody Hall
- Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
-
- An indispensable work that includes a primer on the area and
- culture, lessons on how to read and speak Tuvan, a Tuvan to
- English glossary, and several samples of Tuvan text. An
- extremely valuable book that is worth double the price (about
- $20). A word of caution; the only Tuvan I know to have seen the
- book commented that "no one uses those words anymore".
-
- 9 - Ancient Traditions: Shamanism in Central Asia and the Americas
- Edited by Gary Seaman and Jane S. Day.
- Published by the Denver Museum of Natural History and the
- University Press of Colorado, 1994.
-
- Based on the proceedings from ``Nomads: Masters of the Eurasian
- Steppe,'' Volume 4 of the Soviet-American academic symposia in
- conjunction with the museum exhibitions. The one chapter
- devoted to Tuvan shamanism is by Russian ethnographer Vera P.
- Diakonova.
-
- 10 - The Lost Country: Mongolia Revealed
- Jasper Becker.
- Hodder & Stoughton, 1992.
- ISBN: 0-340-57978-1
-
- Written by the Asia correspondent of the Guardian newspaper, who
- visited Mongolia and surrounding countries several times in
- 1989-90. Includes are chapters on Buryatia and Tuva. Plenty of
- personal observation as well as background history.
-
- 11 - The Last Disco In Outer Mongolia
- Nick Middleton.
- Onon, 1992.
- ISBN: 1-85799-012-9
-
- About the travel experiences of a British student who visited
- Mongolia in 1987 and 1990. He observes the changes that have
- taken place between his two visits.
-
- 12 - Recherche experimentale sur le chant diphonique
- Hugo Zemp and Tran Quang Hai.
- Cahier de Musique traditionnelle,
- 4,p27-68,Atelier d'ethnomusicologie,
- Geneve, 1991.
-
- The most thorough analysis of Tuvan, Tibetan, Mongol and Altai
- styles. Plenty of sound spectra representing excerpts from a
- variety of songs, including cuts from the Smithonian Folkways CD. [BD]
-
- 13 - Structural, aerodynamic and spectral characteristics of imitated
- Tibetan chanting.
- Aliaa Ali Khir, M.D. and Diane M.Bless, Ph.D.
- Proceedings of the 21st symposium of The Voice Foundation.
- Philadelphia, June 1992.
-
- A study on ``the underlying physiological adjustements of this
- unique phonetary mode''. For those with high interests in acoustic
- and physiological details. The subject under study was an
- American male, not a Tibetan monk. The study suggests aphonic
- patients may benefit from Tibetan chanting, as it requires
- mininmal mean flow rates. It quotes and agress with previous
- authors (Smith, Stevens, Tomlinson 1967), that Tibetan style
- may be due to ``two modes of oscillations, one at the normal
- frequency and another at some ``ill-defined'' low frequency that
- synchronized to every pulse of the higher frequency''. It rules
- out glottal fry as the source of the low note, which I believe
- is an error. [BD]
-
- 14 - Sons multiphoniques aux instruments a vent
- Michele Castellango
- Rapport IRCAM, 34|82.
- Paris, France.
-
- Wind instruments, not just voices, can play multiple sounds.
- The trombone, the flute, the oboe, basson and bass clarinet are
- examined in that respect. Defined as : ``l'entretien d'un son
- stable percu comme un accord'', multiphonic instrumental
- emissions are compared to vocal overtone singing. ``Si l'on
- renforce l'intensite de certaines harmoniques, ceux-ci peuvent
- etre percu isolement et former une melodie independante. A un
- instant donne, on percoit alors deux hauteurs. C'est le cas du
- chant diphonique, de la guinbarde et de l'arc musical ou l'on a
- dailleurs souvent deux ou trois melodies formantiques en
- contrepoint.''
-
- N.B In previous years, Michele Castellango and Trang Quang Hai
- have worked together on a number of occasions, trying to pin
- down the nature of biphonic singing. [BD]
-
- 14 - Theorie physiologique de la musique
- Hermann von Helmholtz
- Editions Jacques Gabay
- Paris, 1990.
-
- The Bible of acoustics and music, from the well known 19th
- century Heidelberg university professor. First edition in
- French: 1868.
-
- When we sing overtones, we behave as Helmholtz resonators,
- amplifying certain harmonics in the note we sing. We do so by
- slightly changing the volume of air contained in our vocal tract
- or by changing the surface of the aperture of our mouth.
- Helmholtz shows us that in matters of resonance, there are no
- other variables at play than volume of air and surface of
- aperture.
-
- Following up on Helmhotz I hypothesized that whenever three
- notes were distincly heard in a given style (i.e. Kaigal-ool
- Khovalyg singing in khoomei style) one was amplified using the
- tongue as a means to vary the volume of air, one was amplified
- using the aperture of the mouth. Both field observations of
- professional Tuvan singers and personal practice seem to verify
- this. [BD]
-
- 15 - Tuvan Folk Music
- A.N. Aksenov
- Asian Music IV, 1973
-
- 16 - The Choomij of Mongolia: a Spectral Analysis of Overtone Singing
- R. Walcot
- Selected Reports in Ethnomusicology 2, 1974
-
-
- 8: Any recommended reading about Feynman?
- A: Send your suggestions. Here's what I've found.
-
- 1 - Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!
- Richard Feynman, as told to Ralph Leighton
- W.W. Norton, 1985. Paperback by Bantam Books, ISBN 0-553-34668-7.
-
- Another canonical work. Sometimes inspirational, sometimes
- educational, always amusing. I can't praise this book highly
- enough to do it justice.
-
- 2 - What Do *You* Care What Other People Think?
- Richard Feynman, as told to Ralph Leighton
- W.W. Norton, 1988. Paperback by Bantam Books, ISBN 0-553-34784-5.
-
- In a way, "What Do You Care" fills in the holes that "Surely
- You're Joking" left unexplored. Some stories are light hearted,
- while others are somewhat tragic. The second half of the book
- details Feynman's work with the Rogers Commission. Highly
- recommended.
-
- 3 - QED - The Strange Theory of Light and Matter
- Richard Feynman
- Princeton University Press, 1985.
-
- Quantum electrodynamics explained for the generalist. Will the
- reader understand modern physics after reading this book? No,
- but not to worry (as explained on page 9). The clearest and
- most concise explanation of the subject available.
-
- 4 - The Feynman Lectures on Physics
- Richard Feynman, Robert Leighton, Matthew Sands
- Addison-Wesley, 1963.
-
- This legendary three-volume set established the precedent of
- "Feynman talks, Leighton writes". Fascinating lectures
- delivered with insight usually not presented to undergraduate
- students.
-
- 5 - Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman
- James Gleick
- Pantheon Books, 1992. Paperback by Vintage/Random House,
- 1993, ISBN 0-679-74704-4.
-
- Gleick is a thorough researcher; the bibliography is formidable.
- His writing does not convey the same friendly charm of Feynman's
- narrated stories, but the different viewpoint will be of
- interest to the completist.
-
- 6 - No Ordinary Genius: The Illustrated Richard Feynman
- Christopher Sykes
- W.W. Norton, 1994.
-
- Great book. Ralph Leighton describes it as a get-together at a
- home where Feynman is the main topic of conversation, and
- Feynman shows up to tell his version of events.
-
- 7 - SIX EASY PIECES: Essentials of Physics Explained by its Most
- Brilliant Teacher
- Richard P. Feynman
- Addison-Wesley and the Caltech Archives, 1994.
-
- Six Lectures from The Feynman Lectures on Physics, with
- accompanying audio on CD or cassette.
-
- 8 - The Art of Richard P. Feynman : Images By a Curious Character
- Compiled by Michelle Feynman
- G+B Science Publishers SA, G+B Arts International
- ISBN 2-88449-047-7
-
- 173 pages with 92 full page black and white images and 7 colour
- plates by Feynman the artist. Accompanying the images are 57
- pages of commentary and reminiscences, some of which has been
- printed before (``But Is It Art?'' from ``Surely You're
- Joking'') and some of which is new. Particularly interesting
- are the contributions from the wonderful Albert Hibbs and from
- Michelle Feynman. A great book for the enthusiast.
-
- 9 - The Beat of A Different Drum: The Life and Science of
- Richard Feynman
- Jagdish Mehra
- Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press, 1994
- ISBN 0-19-853948-7 (cloth)
-
- According to the book jacket, Feynman in 1980 requested that
- Mehra ``do what he had already done for Heisenberg, Pauli, and
- Dirac, that is write a definitive account of his life, science
- and personality.'' Mehra, who had known Feynman personally for
- 30 years, readily agreed.
-
-
- 9: Are audio recordings available?
-
- A: I'm glad you asked. I recommend numbers 1, 2, 9, 8, in that order.
- Number 1 might turn off some people as it is a sampler of styles and
- not a collection of songs. In that case, skip to number 2. Number
- 18 is new and readily available and a great intro to the subject.
- (Reviews by Kerry Yackoboski except as noted, and I think a few of
- these uncredited reviews are from Alan Shrives).
-
- 1 - Tuva: Voices From The Center Of Asia.
- Smithsonian Folkways CD SF 40017
- Distributed by Rounder Records, Cambridge MA.
-
- 33 tracks, 41'50, featuring numerous performers recorded in Tuva
- by Ted Levin, Eduard Alexeev, Zoya Kirgiz. Khoomei, jew's harp,
- sigit, animal imitations. Excellent liner notes. Excellent,
- scholarly, musicological liner notes, texts in Tuvan available.
-
- 2 - Tuva: Voices from the Land of the Eagles
- Pan Records CD 2005CD
- P.O. Box 155, 2300 AD Leiden, Netherlands
-
- 11 tracks, 46'46, khomus, tyzani, igil, amirga, toshpular.
- Features Kongar-ool Ondar, Kaigal-ool Khovalig, Gennadi Tumat,
- all soloists of the folk ensemble Tuva. Recorded February 23,
- 1991. Excellent liner notes.
-
- 3 - Voix de l'Orient Sovietique
- Inedit W 260008
- Masion des Cultures Du Monde , Paris
-
- Only one Khoomei track, but it is supposedly very good. Other
- tracks from other Soviet (now CIS) central Asian republics. [I
- don't have this one - Kerry]
-
- 4 - Mongolian Folk Music
- Selected from the 1967 year's collection by Lajos Vargyas.
- Hungaroton HCD 18013-14
- [I don't have this one - Kerry]
-
- 5 - Mongolie- Musique vocale et instrumentale
- Inedit W 460009
- [I don't have this one - Kerry]
-
- 6 - Sainkho Namtchylak - Lost Rivers
- Free Music Productions FMP CD 42
- Postbox 100 227, 1000 Berlin 10, Germany
-
- Solo voice. Avante garde singing, with some polyphonic singing.
- 13 tracks, 74'18.
-
- 7 - Sainkho Namtchylak - When the Sun Is Out You Don't See Stars
- Free Music Productions FMP CD 38
-
- With Peter Kowald (bass), Werner Ludi (saxes), Butch Morris
- (cornet). 20 tracks, 72,50, less avante garde than Lost Rivers.
-
- 8 - Sainkho Namtchylak - Out Of Tuva
- Cramworld/Crammed Discs CD CRAW6
- Released 1993.
- Recorded between 1986 and 1993 in Kyzyl, Moscow, Wuppertal,
- Paris, and Brussels.
-
- Mostly pop songs incorporating traditional folklore and some
- traditional techniques, the liner notes explain that these are
- recordings that Sainkho had made with no plans to release them.
- Muscovite Artemy Troitsky thought that they should be released
- and put them on this dkic, along with three new songs.
-
- The songs are generally less esoteric than other Sainkho works
- and they are far more accessible to the casual listener. The
- featured instrument is her voice, and the accompaniment varies
- from somewhat bare percussion to a large orchestra to
- synthesized washes. I like this disc more than the other
- Sainkho ones I've heard, and if I were to recommend a first
- Sainkho album to newcomers, this would be it.
-
- As an added bonus, the insert artwork is pretty good; the cover
- is a stunning photo of Sainkho's face and shoulders superimposed
- in front of a bright blur of colour. The liner notes are good
- but too brief; only some of the songs have accompanying notes
- listing the details of the recording. 13 Tracks, total length
- 40:30.
-
- 9 - Sainkho Namtchylak - Letters
- Leo CD 190.
- Unreviewed.
-
- 10- Tuva: Echoes from the Spirit World
- Pan Records CD 2013CD
-
- 17 tracks, 61'38, khomus, tyzani, igil, amirga, toshpular,
- dambiraa, bell, kengirge, byzaanchy, limbi, buree, savag, tung,
- tenchak, khirilee. Features 11 performers, includes recordings
- made on tour in 1992 as well as older recordings from Soviet
- radio (1973, 1983, 1986). Superlative liner notes explaining
- many ideas and terms.
-
- 11- Ozum (Sprouts): Young Voices of Ancient Tuva
- Window to Europe CD sum 90 008
- Jodenbreestraat 24, 1011 NK, Amsterdam, Netherlands
-
- A Dutch-Russian release from Otkun Dostai, Oolak Ondar, and
- Stanislav Iril, three young Tuvan musicians who have built on
- the traditional style. A strong album that I really like.
- Oolak Ondar (b. 1973) was the winner at the throat singing
- symposium (1991, Kyzyl) in sygyt style. Khoomei, khomus,
- acoustic guitar, and shaman drum. 13 tracks, 42'34.
-
- 12- Mongolian Songs
- King Record Co CD KICC 5133
- 2-12-13 Otowa Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 112 Japan
-
- Part of King's World Music Library, this is a Japanese import
- with almost no English in the package. 7 performers, 19 songs,
- 54'52. The men's khoomei is very good, the women's takes some
- getting used to.
-
- 13- Mongolian Epic Song (Zhangar)
- King Record Co CD KICC 5136
- 2-12-13 Otowa Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 112 Japan
-
- Male vocal with instrumental accompaniment. Short and long
- songs.
-
- 14- Mongolian Morin Khuur Ci Bulag
- King Record Co CD KICC 5135
- Sentimental horse-head fiddle solos.
-
- 15- Morin Khuur Ci Bulag
- JVC World Sounds, VICG-5212
- More Sentimental horse-head fiddle solos.
-
- 16- Mongolie Ensemble Mandukhai
- Playa Sound, PS 65115
- Large variety with some khoomei.
-
- 17- Mongolie Chants Kazakh et tradition epique de l'Ouest
- Ocora - Radio France, C 580051
-
- 25 songs, with tobsuur accompaniment, recorded in Mongolia in
- 1984 and 1990. Twenty songs of Kazakh music, some of it
- actually danceable! Minimal khoomei, although the voices do
- make good use of changing timbres. The final five songs are
- labelled ``epic tradition of the West'' and the lyrics are
- fragments of lengthy epic songs.
-
- 18- Huun-Huur-Tu: Sixty Horses In My Herd - Old Songs and Tunes of Tuva
- Shanachie Records CD SH 64050 CD/MC
- 37 E. Clinton St., Newton NJ 40017
-
- Master khoomigch Kaigal-ool Khovalyg and his new group, which
- has toured all over the US. 12 tracks of all natures of
- top-notch khoomei, other singing, igil (Tuvan viol) playing.
- Its being studio-produced, which although lending a slight
- inauthenticity, makes for an eminently listenable album. Decent
- liner notes and text. [BSG]
-
- 19- Uzlyau: Guttural Singing of the People of the Sayan, Altai, and
- Ural Mountains (1993)
- PAN 2019CD (PAN Records Ethnic Series)
-
- 37 recordings from Russian archives form a catalog of all known
- styles of overtone singing from Tuva (12), Altai (2), and
- Baskhiria (23), collected, produced, (partially) recorded, and
- documented in encyclopaedic, scholarly liner notes by Vyacheslav
- Shchurov. Studio and field recordings, featuring master
- khoomigch Oorzhak Khunashtaar-ool in some awesome 1977
- performances recored by Radio Moscow. Some doshpuluur and
- khomus, but almost all vocal. Some absolute knockout kargyraa.
- A must. [BSG]
-
- 20- Tales of Tuva
-
- Kira Van Deusen recites three Tuvan stories (in English) with
- musical accompaniment by Kongar-ool Ondar, Kaigal-ool Khovalyg,
- and Anatoli Kuular.
-
- 21- Shu-De: Voices from the Distant Steppe
- Realworld/WOMAD Productions (Real World Records Ltd)
- (In US): Carol 2339-2
- Caroline Records, Inc
- 111 West 26th St.,
- New York NY 10001
-
- 16 tracks by the Tuvan ensemble Shu-De (M. Mongush, L.
- Oorzhak, N. Shoigu, B. Salchak, O. Kuular), including all
- varieties of khoomei, igil, doshpuluur, & limbi (flute) playing,
- plus a wide variety of styles from Buddhist Chant to Tuvan
- tonguetwisters to Western-style choral harmony. A shamanic
- ritual ends out the CD. A magnificent kargyraa cut by Leonid
- Oorzhak is a highlight. Eminently listenable. (Spring 1994).
- Weak liner notes. [BSG]
-
- 22- Tuvinian Singers & Musicians: Khoomei: Throat-Singing from the
- Center of Asia. Volume 21 of the World Network series, a
- coproduction from WDR (West-deutscher Rundfunk - a major TV and
- radio station in Germany) and World Network. Distributed in
- Germany via Zweitausendeins Versand, Postfach, D-60381
- Frankfurt. Order Number 55838.
-
- 16 tracks (total playing time: 64' 01"), partially recorded in
- Cologne in April 1993 and in Tuva in September 1992. Performers
- include Schaktar Schulban, a 10 year old boy, the 18 year-olds
- Ondar Mongun-Ool and Bujan Dondak, and the Tuva Ensemble,
- founded in 1988 by Gennadi Tumat, Oleg Kuular, Stas Danmaa and
- Alexander Salchak.
-
- This CD can be warmly recommended to all lovers of Tuvinian
- music. The music presented is a well performed collection of
- authentic vocal and instrumental pieces. Since all pieces are
- strictly traditional this CD cannot be compared to the
- performance by e.g. Sainkho. Track no. 9, performed by the
- unusually young artist Schaktar Schulban, reveals the enormous
- talent of this promising singer.
-
- The CD is very interesting because next to the overview of
- singing styles the listener is also introduced to a
- representative spectrum of instrumental music. [OC]
-
- 23- Tuvinski Folklore
- Melodiya Stereo 33 C60-14937-42
- 1981, Out of print.
-
- This three LP set features a total of 65 tracks, most of which
- are khoomei, and instrumental music. One entire disk (both
- sides) is devoted to two tracks, each over 24 minutes long, of
- byzanchi playing. There are also several tracks of story
- telling, and a few of the musical numbers are repeated with
- variations or in slightly different styles.
-
- The Melodiya record that Feynman had is apparently unavailable,
- although the vaults of recording agencies in the former USSR
- have been opened to interested entrepreneurs. Latest reports
- say that the masters have been lost.
-
- 24- Kronos Quartet: Night Prayers
- Elektra Nonesuch CD 2 79346
- Distributed by Warner Music.
-
- One track on this CD, "Kongerei", features Kaigal-ool Khovalyg,
- Anatoly Kuular, and Kongar-ool Ondar singing along to the
- accompaniment of the Quartet (2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello).
- This new version is interesting in it's approach to a
- traditional Tuvan song with modern Western instruments.
-
- 25- Yat-Kha
- General Records GR 90-202 (Moscow), 1993
-
- Albert Kuvezin (throat-singing and instruments yat-kha,
- byzanchi, organs, khomus, percussion & gongs) and Ivan Sokolovski
- (keyboards, computers, cello, drums & percussions, noises).
- Kuvezin is a founding member of the group Huun-Huur-Tu, living
- in Moscow, who specializes in his own style of kargyraa,
- extremely low-pitched singing with artificial subharmonics. In
- this hour of 13 tracks, he exploits this awesome and
- rarely-heard technique, combining it with techno-pop backup
- sounds (and a token amount of traditional singing/playing) to
- produce a thoroughly unique, avant-garde offering which has the
- power to grow on you. Deliberately obscure liner notes [BSG].
-
- Here is some news from Yat-Kha from August of 1995:
-
- Eki ergim eshter! (Hello dear friends)
-
- I would like to inform you about some news of the Yat-Kha band.
- We are right now recording a new album at the Global Mobile
- studio in Helsinki under the roof (and rules) of Anu Laakkonen.
- The album presents our new style: "Yenisei kargyrapunk". The
- participating musicians in this projects are: Alexei/vocal,
- tungur, igil; myself/kargyra & guitars; Evgeniy/percussions,
- Kari/sound & drinks; Anu/sauna; Mikko/cooks & drinks;
- Akym/phonecontrol. The CD will be released by Global Music
- Centre soon. Start saving now! We will give the account
- details later. [AK]
-
- 26- Huun-Huur-Tu (with Mergen Mongush): Orphan's Lament
- Shanachie Records 64058
-
- A work of well-produced art, contemporary offerings in
- traditional Tuvan styles, not an ethnomusicological assay. Its
- 16 pieces in styles varying from unison Kargyraa chants to
- political songs to khomus ("Jews' harp") solos provide a
- tour-de-force of Tuvan styles designed for listening pleasure
- and wonderment. Master khoomigch Kaigal-ool Khovalyg's deeply
- touching igil (Tuvan viol) playing is (as on "60 Horses") a real
- highlight of the album. His frequent vocal solos in all styles,
- and those of the sweet-voiced Anatoli Kuular, joined by Mergen
- Mongush for one sygyt cut, help place this album among the two
- or three "must-have"'s for anyone who *enjoys* authentic Tuvan
- music. [BSG]
-
- 27- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Geronimo, An American Legend
- Columbia CD CK 57760
-
- Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, Anatoly Kuular, and Sayan Bapa sing and
- play on six of the seventeen tracks. The Tuvans make a
- significant contribution to the soundtrack and share writing
- credits on some songs. This CD is not a "must-have" for the
- traditionalist but is interesting. The CD seems to have a
- higher Tuvan content than was actually heard in the movie.
-
- Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, Anatoly Kuular, and Sayan Bapa sing and
- play on six of the seventeen tracks. The Tuvans make a
- significant contribution to the soundtrack and share writing
- credits on some songs. This CD is not a "must-have" for the
- traditionalist but is interesting. The CD seems to have a
- higher Tuvan content than was actually heard in the movie.
-
- 28- The ReR Quarterly, Volume 4, Number 1 (ReR 0401)
-
- The ReR Quarterly is a sort of audio magazine dedicated to weird
- and experimental music. The first track on this issue is
- "Koongoortoog," whom we know today as Huun-Huur-Tu. Most of the
- rest of the CD is significantly modernist abstract composition
- or alienated rock music.
-
- This old traditional song was recorded in 1991 in Moscow when
- the Koongoortug band consisted of only Albert Kuvezin and
- Alexander Bappa. On this song Mr. Kuvezin sang and played all
- the instruments (yat-kha, fretless bass, drum machine, buddhist
- percussion) except shell by Mr. Bappa. Arrangement was done by
- Mr. Kuvezin. The studio time was purchased by Mr. Bappa.
- This tape was given to Chris Cutler in London. The picture and
- the information was mistakingly taken from the first CD of Huun
- Huur Tu. ReR Megacorp is reachable at 74 Tulse Hill, London SW2
- 2PT, England, or distributed in the USA by Wayside Music, PO Box
- 8427, Silver Spring MD 20907. (Source: [AK], Alexei Saaia, Anu
- Laakkonen, Akym (AAAA Club))
-
- 29- Whistling In the Temple: Harmonic Voices
- Simone Records, 412 East Ellis Ave., Inglewood, CA 90302.
- In the USA, call 1-800-300-3315 for info.
-
- Most songs have overtone singing and other cultural references
- such as instrumentation and source material which refer to Tuvan
- lifestyle. It is a hybrid recording, but not in a pop type
- manner such as Sainko. I did enjoy the music and gist of the
- material immensely. [KW]
-
- 30- Jeff Lorber: West Side Stories
- Polygram Records, distributed by Verve Records, 314 523 738-2.
-
- Kongar-ool Ondar sings on one track, ``Tuva'', five minutes
- long. He sings two themes (the old favourite, ``Alash River''
- and another, about the Tuvan forests), and Lorber has built a
- song around them. The music is not traditional, or a facsimile
- (for example, the Kronos Quartet blended their instruments well
- with the Tuvan themes on their Tuvan song) but is funky light
- jazz played mainly on synthesizers. An added bonus: in the
- liner notes Lorber mentions that he made his studio available to
- Kongar-ool to record an album for release in Tuva.
-
- 31- Biosintez
- Lava Productions.
- 23705 Vanowen St., suite 123,
- West Hills, CA 91307, USA.
- E-Mail: LAVAUSA@AOL.COM
-
- Tuvan music played on modern rock instruments. Unreviewed.
-
- 32- Kongar-ool Ondar - A Tuvan in Pasadena
- Not yet released, 1995.
-
- This recording, also known as ``You Can't Beat City Hall (for
- Acoustics)'', is a solo recording by Kongar-ool Ondar, made in
- the picturesque old city hall of Pasadena, California. The
- building's natural reverberance is used to great effect and
- gives the recordings a very natural lively feel.
-
- The recording opens with traditional songs done impeccably, but
- it is the more modern-sounding songs that are most interesting.
- Also striking is the prayer for Richard Feynman, a song
- featuring only voice and drum.
-
- The recording should be commercially available in the near
- future.
-
- 33- The Legend of Tannu Uriangkhai
- Published by The Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, 4th
- Floor, #5, Shu-Chow Road, Taipei, Republic of China.
- Produced by the Typhoon Music Co, director Lee Hou-kou.
-
- A book and CD combination in Chinese and English, with
- references, the CD is excellent [Not reviewed by me - KY].
-
- 34- Khomus: Jew's Harp Music of the Turkic Peoples in the Urals,
- Siberia, and Central Asia.
- Pan Records CD PAN 2032CD
- P.O. Box 155, 2300 AD Leiden, Netherlands
- Phone: (+31-71)219479 fax: (+31-71)226869
-
- While only one track (out of 33) is from Tuva, this is an
- excellent survey of khomus music of the Turkic speaking peoples.
- Excellent liner notes, including repeated mention of Tuva and a
- Tuvan folk tale regarding the origin of the khomus. Very
- listenable if you like khomus (very twangy if you don't like
- khomus...) with most of the songs being complete, though fairly
- short. Music is from Gorno-Altai, Kyrgyzstan, Tuva,
- Bashkortostan, and Yakutia. There is surprising variety in the
- music from this simple instrument.
-
- Here are the details on the Tuvan track (#5): ``BAYAN KOL and
- BISTING TYVA (Our Tuva). Also found on LP Melodiya 14937 #1 and
- #10. Many folk musicians do not perform on the stage but rather
- prefer to play in a natural environment, like the Tuvan herdsman
- Khunashtaar-ool Oorzhak playing temir khomus''. Total time:
- 66'03. [MVB]
-
- 35- Khoomei 92 - WTE Tapes 004
- Window to Europe
- Jodenbreestraat 24, 1011 NK, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- tel +31-20-6245747
- fax +31-20-6203570
-
- Though I have not heard this one myself it comes highly
- recommended by a friend in Amsterdam. It is a tape (presumably
- also on CD) from the first International Symposium on Throat
- Singing in Kyzyl, June 1992. [MVB]
-
- 36- Planet Soup
- Produced by Ellipsis Arts, 20 Lumber Rd., Roslyn, NY 11576,
- (800) 788-6670, FAX: (516) 621-2750.
-
- This illustrated book (48 pages) and three compact discs (or
- cassette) includes one song (1:51 minutes), ``Genghis Blues:
- The Ballad of Cher Shimjer (What You Talkin' About?)'' featuring
- Paul Pena, (vocals, guitars, kargyraa vocals); Kongar-ool Ondar
- (sygyt vocal, khomus) and; ``C.T.'' and Rusty Gunn (backing
- vocals).
-
- There's also an interesting track by Bolot Bairyshev, from Altay
- in Mongolia (this track is originally from ``Voice of Asia 2'').
-
- 37- Jon Rose: Violin Music For Supermarkets
- Megaphone Records, Megaphone 016 (CD), released 1994.
-
- Sainkho Namtchylak appears on track 11, ``Shopping In Tuva''
- (3:51).
-
- 38- Yat-Kha: Yenisei-punk
- Global Music Centre GMCD 9504, Finland, 1995.
- Duration: 56:31
- Contact: e-mail: gmc@global.pp.fi, http://www.eunet.fi/gmc/
- Availability: http://personal.eunet.fi/pp/dighoe/scanmail.html
-
- TRACKS: Solun chaagai sovet churtum (Beautiful Soviet Country)
- Karangailyg kara hovaa (In the endless black steppe)
- Kaa-khem (Name of the river)
- Kuu-la khashtyn baaryndan (At the foot of a mountain)
- Kamgalanyr kuzhu-daa bar (We have protection force)
- Irik chuduk (Rotten log)
- Chashpy-khem (Name of a river)
- Kadarchy (Shepherd boy)
- Chok-la kizhi yry (Song of a poor lonely)
- Een kurug kagban-na men I didn't leave my yurt empty)
- Toorugtub taiga (Cedar taiga)
- Karagyram
-
- If Michael Gira would have been born in Tuva, this is how the
- Swans would sound, I guess. All the instruments but the
- electric guitar are ethnic Tuvan, but I have the impression
- they're not as lively and diversified as with Huun-Huur-Tu.
- Also, the throat singing is quite threatening in a monotonous
- way, but not as breath-taking and crazy as with Huun-Huur-Tu.
- Although many of the songs are about nature, this CD sounds very
- dark and gloomy, hence the "punk" title; not the Sex Pistols
- kind of punk, more like Joy Division.
-
- Every song on its own is an impressive listening experience, but
- maybe there isn't enough variation to make the whole CD
- interesting enough. Luckily, some songs have accompanying extra
- voices.
-
- The last track is more than 10 minutes long, and is not really a
- song, more the singer showing of his low throat voice, which
- only rarely gets the "vacuum cleaner" sound effect. Conclusion:
- good, but not essential exotica stuff. [Reviewed by Johan Dada Vis
- <johan.devis@ping.be>.]
-
- 39- Deep In the Heart of Tuva - Cowboy Music From the Wild East
- Ellipsis Arts CD4080, ISBN 1-55961-324-6
- 64 page book, 60+ minute CD
-
- This recent release comes with a well-produced booklet full of
- information (interviews, khoomei details, liner notes, etc.)
- and superb photos. The music is a sampler of a wide variety of
- performers and styles. This release sets a new standard for
- Tuvan music production.
-
- 40- Huun-Huur-Tu: If I'd Been Born An Eagle
- Shanachie Records
-
- "If I'd Been Born An Eagle" explores a possible past with the
- addition of an end-blown flute, an instrument of other Turkic
- mountain peoples, which may once have been played in Tuva. Once
- you hear it along with the other Tuvan instruments, you'll
- wonder why the Tuvans ever gave it up! This CD is a worthy
- addition to the other two by HHT. [RL]
-
- 41- Huun-Huur-Tu and Angelite: Fly, Fly My Sadness
-
- Recorded in Bulgaria with the women's choir Angelite (formerly
- called Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares), this CD is definitely
- meditative stuff --- not quite my style, but certainly an
- interesting mixture of distinctive musical traditions. [RL]
-
- 42- Vershki da Koreshki
- Al Sur CD ALCD 204, 1996.
- 15, rue des Goulvents, 92000 Nanterre, France,
- Telephone (33) 01 41 20 90 50.
-
- 9 tracks, 56'08.
-
- Featuring:
- Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, voice, khoomei, igil, khomus
- Mola Sylla, vocals, kongoma, xalam, kalimba
- Alexei Levin, accordian, piano, khomus, kongoma
- Vladimir Volkov, double bass
- Paco Diedhjou, sauruba
-
- This album features one musician from Tuva, two from Senegal,
- and two from Saint Petersburg. The musicians blend their styles
- and genres to form an interesting and attractive result;
- although similar experiments haven't always worked well in the
- past, in this case it does.
-
- The accordian and the double bass complement, rather than steer,
- the other instruments. The addition of the rich sounding double
- bass to Tuvan melodies is quite satisfying. The African and
- Tuvan musical elements are not as disparate as one might expect;
- this is more a testimony to the talents and to the calibre of
- the musicians than to any similarities inherent in the cultures.
-
- 43- Chirgilchin: The Wolf and the Kid
- Shanachie CD 64070
- 16 tracks, 1996.
-
- Featuring:
- Ondar Mongun-ool, throat-singer
- Aidysmaa Kandan, singer
- Tamdyn Aldar, instruments
- Produced by Alexander Bapa
-
- The 20-year old Tuvan performers sound great on this recording,
- and some listeners will already know Mongun-Ool from a sygyt cut
- on the World Network CD ``Choomeij: Throat-Singing From the
- Center of Asia''. Mongun-Ool is one of the greatest
- sygyt-singers, but he masters other styles as well. [Review by
- Sami Jansson.]
-
- 44- Big Sky: Standing On This Earth
- Skysong Productions, inc., SPCD1001, 1997
- P.O. Box 11755, Minneapolis, MN, 55412
- 12 tracks, total time 55:57
-
- Big Sky features alt.culture.tuva contributor Steve Sklar on
- guitar and vocals, and on one song on this CD, "Siberia", he
- uses his his formidable kargyraa and sygyt to great effect. Not
- a Tuvan CD, but one with some Tuvan influence; it is mostly
- upbeat (in outlook as well as tempo) pop/rock with a bright,
- wide-open, spacious sound reminiscent of Tuva's wide open
- plains.
-
- Big Sky themselves are on the WWW at URL
- http://www.tc.umn.edu/~skla0003/Big_Sky.html
- and Steve Sklar has a khoomei page at URL
- http://www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/g057/sklar001/khoomei.html
-
- 45- Ondar & Pena: Genghis Blues
- TuvaMuch Records, 1997,
- c/o Friends of Tuva
- 12 tracks, total time 53:54
- Available from Friends of Tuva.
-
- A collaboration between Tuva's Kongar-ol Ondar and occasional
- alt.culture.tuva contributor Paul ``Earthquake'' Pena, this CD
- successfully blends the traditions of Tuvan music with those of
- American blues.
-
- Several of the songs are traditional, but the original songs by
- Pena are the attraction: the first track, ``What You Talkin'
- About?'', is a killer and is worth the price of the CD by
- itself. This Bo Diddley-style tour de force recounts how Pena
- began his journey to Tuva and his journey into khoomei.
-
- Other highlights are the notable ``Kargyraa Moan'', a song that
- helped win Paul Pena first prize in the kargyraa competition at
- the 1995 Khoomei Symposium in Kyzyl, as well as ``Tuva
- Farewell'', Pena's thoughts and insights about his visit to (and
- return from) Tuva.
-
- 10: Are there any video tapes about Tuva?
- A: Yes, there are. Many of these are available from Friends of Tuva.
-
- 1. The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
-
- A NOVA episode about Richard Feynman. It, as well as "Fun to
- Imagine" and "Last Journey of a Genius" are about Feynman,
- although the set of Tuva-heads and the set of Feynman-fans has a
- large intersection. FoT has a scheme through which the first two
- tapes may be rented in the USA; the third may be purchased. Last
- winter the BBC aired a 2-part special on Feynman (sorry, no Tuva)
- that was whittled down to one episode for broadcast in the USA
- under the title "The Best Mind Since Einstein". The longer
- English version is great.
-
- 2. They Who Know: Shamans of Tuva
-
- A Belgian production in English featuring "45-snowy-I" Ondar
- Daryma.
-
- 3. Tuva TV
-
- Over 7 hours of broadcasts from Tuva TV, all in colour, with a
- written guide to describe the action.
-
- 4. Tuvans Invade America
-
- Alt.culture.tuva's own Jeff Cook had a large hand in this
- informal documentary on the visit of 3 extraordinary Tuvan
- performers to California for the Rose Bowl Parade on January 1,
- 1993. (90 minutes, videotape)
-
- 5. Lost Land of Tannu Tuva
-
- Another famous PBS show, narrated by Hal Holbrook.
-
- 6. Throat Singing In Tuva
-
- This 30-minute documentary from the Tuvan Ministry of Culture (in
- English) features masters past, present, and future. Historical
- footage from the 1950s shows Tuvans appearing in Moscow for the
- first time; contemporary scenes show Kongar-ool Ondar (pre
- shaved-head) and some of his students, including Bady-Dorzhu
- Ondar.
-
- 7. Tuva - Shamans and Spirits
-
- Tuva is the setting for the reemergence of ancient spiritual
- traditions after their near extinction under Soviet communist
- repression. From the capital of Kyzyl to isolated nomadic yurtas
- in remote alpine mountains, the Tuvan people are rediscovering
- their indigenous Shamanic and Buddhist rituals and healing arts.
- A group from the West is invited to participate in the first
- public forum and display of previously forbidden practices. A
- good insight into Tuva's recovering shamanism after years of
- Soviet repression as well as an interesting Tuva travelogue.
-
- Produced in conjunction with the 1993 visit of Foundation for
- Shamanic Studies members to Tuva, the documentary was completed
- in 1994 but was not available to the general public (non-members
- of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies) until 1996, which is a
- shame; I would recommend this to all those interested in
- spiritual life in modern Tuva.
-
- The documentary is great. Filmed in Kyzyl, Todje, Chadaan, and
- elsewhere, it is a mini-travelogue of Tuva that showcases various
- landscapes of the country. I would highly recommend this for
- anyone who wants to see for themselves what Tuva looks like
- (albeit on TV).
-
- The video interviews numerous practitioners and shows them at
- work, explaining the significance of their dress or actions. The
- video is as realistic and life-like as can be expected without
- actually being there. The shamans are open and willing to share
- their histories and their feelings about their work; a man who is
- both a Buddhist monk and a shaman provides a unique insight on
- Tuvan attitudes towards health and healing.
-
- 55 minutes VHS videotape, completed 1996.
- $30US including tax, shipping, and handling within the USA.
- Contact: Tom Anderson, PO Box 1119, Point Reyes, CA 94956, USA.
- Fax (510) 649-9719, or call (510) 649-1485.
-
-
- 11: Does anyone still collect the old Tuvan stamps?
- A: Yes, there is a group of stamp collectors devoted to the old
- diamond-shaped and triangular stamps of Tuva from the 1920's and
- 1930's. These stamps feature many fanciful images of people,
- animals, machinery, and nature (sometimes all on the same stamp!).
-
- You can contact them at the Tannu Touva Collectors Society:
-
- In North America: Ken Simon, 513-6th Ave. S., Lake Worth, FL
- 33460-4507
-
- In Europe: David Maddock, 49 Dinorbean Ave., Fleet, Hants,
- GU13 9SQ, UK
-
- In Asia: Wilson Lin, No. 74 Section 1 Anhe Road, Annan
- District, Taiwan City, Taiwan, 709 R.O.China
-
-
- 12: What can you tell me about travel to Tuva?
- A: This section is still under construction. The bulk of the content
- is from a post by Steve Sklar <skla0003@gold.tc.umn.edu>, with
- commentary from [KY].
-
- GETTING THERE
- ==============
-
- In Moscow it is possible to purchase a ticket to Kyzyl for about
- $150 US (cheaper than a flight from Moscow to Abakan, which costs
- about $250 US). The entity that used to be Aeroflot doesn't exist
- any more, and several smaller (more regional) airlines are filling
- in the holes; some even lease their planes from Aeroflot. The
- Aeroflot in Kyzyl is a different company than the one in Moscow, and
- that's still a different company from the one in Montreal.
-
- Yak airlines flies once a week to and from Kyzyl, from Moscow.
- There are stops both ways in Omsk, lasting about 1.5 hours. Route
- 727 flies from Moscow to Kyzyl on Saturdays. Route 728 returns from
- Kyzyl to Moscow on Sundays. The quoted price is $148.00 each way
- (please note: in general, in Russia and the former Soviet Union,
- there is no such thing as a ``round trip rate''. Round trip is
- simply twice the one-way rate.
-
- The Yak Flight Director, Victor Akiphen(r?), is a nice guy, a
- mountain climber, and speaks some English. He can be reached in
- Moscow at 151-66-92 or 151-89-86, or by fax at 956-16-13, and will
- be happy to provide further info and assistance. By the way, Yak's
- planes are OK, and the service is pretty decent by Russian
- standards. If you contact Victor, please give him Steve Sklar's
- regards.
-
- MONEY
- =====
-
- Bring lots of new bills. Outside of Moscow and a few other large,
- western Russian cities, they don't accept American Express. Or
- Visa. Or traveller's checks. Or anything. You must have 1990 or
- newer dollars, preferably very new, and they must be unwrinkled,
- untorn and unmarked if you don't want difficulties.
-
- Although the exchange rate in Kyzyl is theoretically higher than in
- Moscow, exchange your money in Moscow. Kyzyl's banks may have no
- roubles to exchange. The exchange rate on the street in Moscow is
- better than that in the bank in Kyzyl or via official channels in
- Moscow, but be careful.
-
- OTHER
- =====
-
- Patience and flexibility are the greatest of virtues. Practice the
- mantra ``we will wait, and we will see''.
-
-
-
- 13: How can I learn to sing khoomei?
- A: It's not easy; the best singers begin their training before they can
- walk. However, it's not impossible to learn later. Dan Bennett has
- volunteered his advice, seen below. I also recommend an excellent
- pamphlet, "Khoomei - How To's and Why's" by Michael Emory, PO Box
- 648, Westbury, NY, USA, 11590. Michael's illustrations, while not
- exactly helpful, are fantastic. His text is quite useful.
-
- The absolute best advice was offered by Ralph Leighton, namely,
- listen to masters and imitate.
-
-
- How to Sing Khoomei (by Dan Bennett, dan@hpwina39.uksr.hp.com)
- ==============================================================
-
- Khoomiy is easiest for men. I *have* heard a recording of a Mongolian
- Kazakh women singing khoomiy, but it's simply not so easy or
- spectacular, because of the higher pitch of the female voice.
- (Sainkho Namchylak can sing khoomiy too.)
-
- 1. Sing a steady note while saying "aah" (to start with). Pitch it in
- the middle of your range, where you can give it plenty of energy,
- i.e. - Sing it loudly.
-
- 2. Aim to make the sound as bright - not to say *brash* - as you can.
- The more energy there is in the harmonics, the louder and clearer
- they'll be when you start singing khoomiy. Practise this for a
- while.
-
- 3. OK, with this as a basis for the sound generation, you've got to
- arrange your mouth to become a highly resonant acoustic filter. My
- style (self- taught, but verified for me by a professional
- Mongolian khoomiy singer I had a lesson with in Ulaanbaatar) is as
- follows:
-
- Divide the mouth into two similar-sized compartments by raising
- your tongue so that it meets the roof of your mouth, a bit like
- you're saying "L". Spread your tongue a bit so that it makes a
- seal all the way round. At this point, you won't be able to pass
- air through your mouth. Then (my technique), break the seal on the
- left (or right) side of the mouth, simply to provide a route for
- the air to get through.
-
- Then (here's the most difficult bit to describe over the net - or
- even in person, for that matter!), push your lips forward a bit,
- and by carefully (and intuitively) adjusting the position of your
- lips, tongue, cheeks, jaw, etc, you can sing Mongolian khoomiy!
-
- Put it this way: the *aim* of the khoomiy singer ("khoomigch") is
- to emphasize ONE of the harmonics which are already present in the
- sound generated by the throat. This is achieved because he is
- forming a resonant cavity, which (a) is tuned to the chosen
- harmonic (overtone), and (b) has a high resonance, or "Q" factor.
- By adjusting the geometry and tension of your mouth you can choose
- which harmonic you're emphasizing, and thus sing a tune.
-