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Huun-Huur-Tu are a Tuvan throat singing group from — where else but Tuva! Throat singing is a form of singing where harmonic overtones are created inside the mouth with the addition of some form of constriction of the larynx. Throat singing often mimics the sounds of nature and animals and is associated with the spiritual beliefs of animism. Tuva — a small Russian Republic on the Mongolian border, is the place most commonly associated with throat singing which is known as khöömei. Tuva is also the home of Huun-Huur-Tu.
Huun-Huur-Tu (Tuvan: xün xürtü) literally means ‘sun propeller’ — the vertical separation of light rays that often occurs just after sunrise or just before sunset. For the members of Huun-Huur-Tu, the refraction of light that produces these rays seems analogous to the "refraction" of sound that produces articulated harmonics in Tuvan throat-singing. The group are well known outside of Tuva and have toured America and recorded in London. They were originally called Kungurtuk and were formed in 1992 with several lineup changes since then. Their musical repertoire has expanded from traditional Tuvan folk songs to include contemporary Tuvan music. In 1999 their fourth album, Where Young Grass Grows even included non-Tuvan instruments including harp, tabla, Scottish smallpipe and synthesiser. The album also features two excerpts of recordings made of two members singing whilst riding horseback on the Tuvan grasslands.
→ see also — What is Inuit throat singing?
Line-up:
- Sayan Bapa (vocals, doshpuluur, igil, guitar)
- Kaigal-ool Khovalyg (vocals, igil, doshpuluur)
- Andrey Mongush (vocals, byzaanchi, khomuz, amarga)
- Alexei Saryglar (vocals, percussion)
Visit the Huun-Huur-Tu website
