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Huun-Huur-Tu

 
Artist: Huun-Huur-Tu

Group Members:

Sayan Bapa, Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, Anatoli Kuular

Similar Artists:

Sainkho Namtchylak, Namie Amuro, Maanam, Egschiglen, Chirgilchin, Sacred Spirit, Flutes of the Sun, Shu-De, Zazie

Worked With:

  • Genres: World
  • Representative Albums: "The Orphan's Lament", "Fly, Fly My Sadness", "If I'd Been Born an Eagle
  • Representative Songs: "Fantasy on the Igil", "The Orphan's Lament", "Khöömei (Throat-Singing)

Biography

The remote region of Tuva, one of the new countries formed with the dissolution of the U.S.S.R., has produced one of the world's most unusual vocal groups, Huun-Huur-Tu. Masters of the throat singing style of xoomei, in which a vocalist produces two or three notes simultaneously, the group has been warmly by an international following. According to Jazz Times, "a rustic joyousness and unadulterated expresiveness come out of these musicians". Analyzing Huun-Huur-Tu's music, The Chicago Tribune, wrote, 'it is unfamiliar yet very accessible, an other-worldly but deeply spiritual music that is rooted in the sound of nature". Dirty Linen took a similar view, claiming, "this music is both very spiritual and down to earth, grounded in a strong sense of place, yet its appeal is universal." In addition to recording their own albums, the members of Huun-Huur-Tu have contributed their unique vocals to albums and/or performances by Frank Zappa, The Chieftains, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, The Kronos Quartet and L. Shankar and Ry Cooder's soundtrack of the film, Geronimo. Their on-going collaboration with Angelite, the Bulgarian Woman's Choir under the direction of Mikhail Alperin, has yielded two memorable albums -- Fly, Fly My Sadness in 1994 and Mountain Tale in 1998. Although its name translates literally as "sun propeller", Huun-Huur-Tu represents much more. In a 1994 interview, founding percussionist Alexander Bapa explained, "(the name of the band refers to) the vertical seperation of light rays that are often seen on the grasslands just after sunrise or just before sunset". Initially named "Kungurtuk", Huun-Huur-Tu came together, in 1992, to play "the old and forgotten songs". Founding members Sasha and Sayan Bapa and Kaigalool Khovalyg had previously performed a state-sanctioned ensemble during the Soviet regime. Although Tuvan music had traditionally been performed by a solo singer or instrumentalist, the group sound of Huun-Huur-Tu set them apart. Huun-Huur-Tu has experienced several personnel changes. Original member Anatoli Kuular left to form a new band, Yat-Kha, in late 1993, and was replaced by Anatoli Kuular, a master of the borbangnadyr style of singing and a virtuosic player of the mouth harp (xomuz) and byzanchi. Percussionist Alexander Bapa left, in 1995, to become a producer in Moscow, and was replaced by Alexander Siraglar, a sygyt singer, string player and precussionist. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Huun-Huur-Tu
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Huun-Huur-Tu (Tuvan: Хүн Хүртү Khün Khürtü) is a music group from Tuva, a Russian republic situated on the Mongolian border.

One of the distinctive elements of their music is throat singing, in which singers sing both the note and the note's overtone, thus controlling two tunes simultaneously. The overtone often sounds like a flute, but it is a human's voice.

Instruments the group uses include the igil, khomus, doshpuluur, tungur (shaman drum), and others.

History

The xöömei quartet Kungurtuk was founded in 1992 by Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, brothers Alexander and Sayan Bapa, and Albert Kuvezin. Not long afterwards, the group changed its name to Huun-Huur-Tu, meaning "sunbeams" (literally "sun propeller"). The focus of their music was traditional Tuvan folk songs, frequently featuring imagery of the Tuvan steppe or of horses.

The ensemble released its first album, 60 Horses In My Herd, the following year. The album was recorded at studios in London and Mill Valley, California. By the time recording began for the follow-up, Kuvezin had left the group to form the more rock-oriented Yat-Kha. Kuvezin was replaced by Anatoli Kuular, who had previously worked with Khovalyg and Kongar-ool Ondar as part of the Tuva Ensemble. The new line-up recorded The Orphan's Lament in New York City and Moscow, and released it in 1994.

In 1995, Alexander Bapa, who had produced the first two albums, departed the group to pursue production as a full-time career. He was replaced by Alexei Saryglar, formerly a member of the Russian state ensemble Siberian Souvenir. A third album, If I'd Been Born An Eagle, recorded in the Netherlands, followed in 1997. This time, in addition to the traditional folk music, the group performed some rather more contemporary Tuvan songs, from the latter half of the 20th century.

In early 1999, the group released its fourth album, Where Young Grass Grows. For the first time on a Huun-Huur-Tu album, non-Tuvan instruments (except for the guitar) were featured, including harp, tabla, Scottish smallpipe (performed by Martyn Bennett) and synthesiser. The album also features two excerpts of recordings made of Kaigal-ool and Anatoli singing whilst riding horseback on the Tuvan grasslands.

Huun-Huur-Tu participated in the 2000 BBC Music Live event, performing the opening and closing songs for a live, early morning broadcast from Snape Maltings. The following year, the group released their first live album.

In 2003, Kuular quit the group and was replaced by Andrey Mongush, an experienced teacher of xöömei and Tuvan instruments.

Albums

  • 60 Horses In My Herd (1993)
  • The Orphan's Lament (1994)
  • If I'd Been Born An Eagle (1997)
  • Where Young Grass Grows (1999)
  • Live 1 (2001)
  • Live 2 (2001)
  • Best * Live (2001)
  • More Live (2003)
  • Spirits from Tuva (2003)
  • Altai Sayan Tandy-Uula (2004)
  • Mother-Earth! Father-Sky! (2008) (with singer Sainkho Namtchylak)
  • Eternal (2009) (with producer Carmen Rizzo)

With The Bulgarian Voices - Angelite:

  • Fly, Fly My Sadness (1996)
  • Mountain Tale (1998)

External links


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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