Singing the blues in Siberia
Published 07 August, 2008, 12:52
Dozens of singers have come to the Russian republic of Tyva to compete in a festival which showcases the region's unique “throat singing”.
Khoomei is the name given to a style of throat singing developed in Tyva. It dates back to ancient times when herdsmen imitated the natural sounds around them.
Throat singers blend a low drone-like tone with a whistling melody to produce an almost ethereal music.
Fans of the art, along with throat singers themselves, gathered at the fifth International Khoomei Festival in the republic's capital. Enthusiasts came from as far away as Japan, America and Norway.
US throat-singer Enrique Ugalde says the unique physical beauty of Tyva lies behind the “beautiful art form of Khoomei”.
The American, who spent years mastering the technique, says throat singing has a didactic quality: “through mimicking the sounds you learn about the nature itself, your environment,” he said.
Tyva is an isolated republic in Southern Siberia. About 300,000 people live in the mountainous area, which is a tapestry of high plains, valleys and peaks.
Some say the region’s stunning geography keeps the Khoomei tradition alive.
Estonian throat-singer Imre Peemot says different, “compared with many other places in Russia.”
“It still has a culture and its own language and it's a very strong culture as well, especially music,” she said.
The winner of this year's event was rewarded handsomely with a brand-new car. 24-year-old Ondar who's been throat-singing since he was eight, left the other competitors way behind.
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