Instructional CDs

How to Hoomei.  Learn hoomei, sygyt, and kargyraa with award-winning throatsinger and star of Genghis Blues, Paul "Earthquake" Pena.  Originally released in 1993 on audio tape, this informally recorded material has been transferred to CD and re-released in 2002.  Paul discusses the techniques necessary to perform each of the styles discussed along with some harmonic theory.  63 wonderful minutes of instruction. 

Throatsinging Instructional CD.  A wonderful instructional CD by Arjuna.  He presents a technique that is both easy to follow and relaxing to do.  About 30 minutes of instruction and examples.  Also includes two bonus tracks from Arjuna's CDs, Tuva Love (from Whistling in the Temple) and Espiritus (from Spirit of the Bear).

If you are in San Francisco, Arjuna teaches a four hour workshop the second Saturday of each month.  For reservations, contact him at (510) 655-9755. 

Solo Artists

Paraphony: Extended Harmonic Techniques, by Mark C. van Tongeren. The author of the book Overtone Singing performs hoomei in his unique way.  The CD retains ambient background noises of the performances, recorded in (somewhat unique) acoustic environments which enhance the power of the throat singing.  Definitely not to be missed!

  See Mark's book in our Fusica Store.

Sainkho: Naked Spirit.  Sainkho Namchylak is one of the more important singers to come from the former Soviet sphere. Born and raised in Tuva, trained in music but denied credentials, she eventually went to Moscow to seek out the modern world. She studied modern composition, ancient folk traditions, and the art of multi-tonal "throat singing." As a member of the infamous avant garde ensemble Tri-O, she broke most of the rules and started to make a name for herself in the world of "new" music. Naked Spirit is her most complete work yet, as she explores jazz, classicism, shamanistic depth, and completely unfettered experiments--always centered around the voice, often layers and layers of her own voice. This is accompanied sparingly; a solo piano, a wailing dudek, a throbbing mouth harp, and a single drum are used to add color or texture to the vocal music.