Internet Info 1997 December/Internet_Info_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1997.iso/faqs/alt/answers/tuva-faq

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From: [e-mail] (Kerry Yackoboski)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.tuva,alt.answers,news.answers
Subject: alt.culture.tuva FAQ Version 1.30 [1 of 1]
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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 <[e-mail]>.  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 [phone]

   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: [e-mail]

        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: [phone]  fax: [phone]

        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 [phone]
        fax [phone]

        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,
        [phone], FAX:  [phone].

        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: [e-mail], 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
        <[e-mail]>.]

    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 [phone].

        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 [phone], or call [phone].


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 <[e-mail]>, 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, [e-mail])
  ==============================================================

  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.