"Throat singing" is an extraordinary vocal form in which one
singer produces two or more voices at the same time, one voice
harmonizing with the others. It is truly astonishing, magical, and
beautiful to hear.
This ancient tradition is kept alive ( and kicking! ) in just a
few countries across Central Asia, south of Siberia.
The best throat singers in the world come from Tuva, and the best
throat singers in Tuva are the members of CHIRGILCHIN:
IGOR KOSHKENDEY has twice won the Tuvan International Throat
Singing Competition, singing and winning in all of the six styles
of throat singing. He has won other international throat singing
competitions as well.
His singing in the unique Oidupaa style is surpassed only by its
originator, Vladimir Oidupaa. Igor has composed new songs as
beautiful as the traditional Tuvan melodies that CHIRGILCHIN also
performs.
MONGOUN-OOL ONDAR won the Tuvan International Throat Singing
Competition at the age of 16. He is recognized as a master of all
six styles of throat singing, and has developed a new style of his
own. His incredible solos can express and inspire profound
feelings of tragic sadness or blissful joy, with a complexity that
would astound John Coltrane or Jimi Hendrix. His singing is,
without a doubt, guaranteed to blow your mind.
ALDAR TAMDYN won Best Instrumentalist at the 2000 International
Folk Music Festival in Tuva, playing the strings of the igil and
the byzaanchy. He is the director of the National Tuvan Orchestra
of Traditional Instruments. He builds the instruments played by
CHIRGILCHIN and other Siberian musical groups.
