Tuva: Voices from the Center of Asia

Various Artists SFW40017

Recorded in 1987, this highly-acclaimed release makes available to the world a miraculous and remarkable ancient musical tradition, including examples of the rare multiphonic "throat-singing" technique. Sponsored by the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Folklife Programs, and the U.S.S.R. Union of Composers, it is an astonishing achievement. "Primal and forthright...a beguiling earful." — The New York Times
Country(s) Russia
Culture Group(s) Tuvan; Central-Asian
Keyword(s) Chants; World music
Instrument(s) ; Amirge; Bell; Drum; Igil; Jaw harp, wooden; Khomuz; Percussion vessel; Vocals; Vocals, group
Language(s) Tuvan
Year of Release 1990
Record Label Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Source Archive Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Credits Photography by Karen Sherlock ; Produced by Soviet-American Musical-Ethnographic Expedition to Tuva ; Produced in collaboration with National Geographic Society ; Produced in collaboration with USSR Union of Composers ; Design by Daphne Shuttleworth ; Compiled by Eduard Alekseev ; Compiled by Zoya Kirgiz ; Compiled by Ted Levin ; Notes Edited by Eduard Alekseev ; Notes Edited by Zoya Kirgiz ; Notes Edited by Ted Levin ; Liner Notes by Eduard Alekseev ; Liner Notes by Zoya Kirgiz ; Liner Notes by Ted Levin ; Recorded by Eduard Alekseev ; Recorded by Zoya Kirgiz ; Recorded by Ted Levin ; Field Worker Eduard Efimovich Alekseev ; Produced by Eduard Efimovich Alekseev ; Recorded by Zoya Kirgiz

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Play	101	Steppe Kargiraa	Fedor Tau	1:20
Play	102	Sigit	Mergen Mongush	0:33
Play	103	Sigit "Alash"	Mergen Mongush	1:38
Play	104	Sigit with Igil (bowed instrument)	Anatolii Kuular	2:12
Play	105	Khoomei	Fedor Tau	0:34
Play	106	Khoomei	Sundukai Mongush	0:26
Play	107	Tespeng Khoomei	Sundukai Mongush	0:46
Play	108	Kozhamik (medley) with khoomei, sigit, and kargiraa	Tumat Kara-ool	2:00
Play	109	Kargiraa duet "Artii-Sayir"	Tumat Kara-ool and Andrei Chuldum-ool	1:08
Play	110	Khomuz melodies performed by trio of Khomuz players	Anchimaa Sonat, Anchimaa Khert, Achyimaa Targin Chandanmaa Torten-ool	1:49
Play	111	Borbannadir	Mikhail Dopchun	0:54
Play	112	Borbannadir	Tumat Kara-ool	0:48
Play	113	Borbannadir with finger strokes across lips	Tumat Kara-ool	0:42
Play	114	Borbannadir	Anatolii Kuular	1:26
Play	115	Ezengileer	Marzhimal Ondar	1:22
Play	116	Sigit with khomuz	Oleg Kuular	0:56
Play	117	Medley of various throat-singing styles	Ensemble "Amirak"	2:56
Play	118	Kargiraa "Artii-Sayir"	Vasili Chazir	1:05
Play	119	Melody on the amirge (hunting horn): luring of the stag	Vasilii Khuurak	0:46
Play	120	Imitation of the roe deer, the musk deer, the reindeer, owl, wolf's howl; Appeal to the patron of hunters before the bear hunt; Reinder herder's calls to reindeer	Vasilii Khuurak, Shozhul Salchak, and Polina Ore-ool	3:32
Play	121	Domestication of sheep to lamb	Doluma Lopsanchap	1:13
Play	122	Domestication of goat to kid	Doluma Lopsanchap	0:33
Play	123	Domestication of cow to calf	Khuren Oorzhak	0:33
Play	124	Domestication of camel to calf	Shimet Soyan	0:30
Play	125	Excerpt from shamanic healing ritual	Alexander Davakai	2:19
Play	126	Funeral lament	Tatyana Sat	1:20
Play	127	Lullaby	Tatyana Sat	0:55
Play	128	Wooden jew's harp	Balgan Kuzhuget	0:46
Play	129	Lullaby with Khoomei	Bilchit-Maa Davaa	1:08
Play	130	Long Song: "Don't Frighten the Crane"	Sundukai Mongush	1:50
Play	131	Long Song: "When I Graze My Beautiful Sheep"	Khuren Oorzhak	1:30
Play	132	Kozhamiktar (antiphonal quatrains)	Group of men and women from Chadan, Dzun-Khemchik Region	1:03
Play	133	Ceremonial Song: "Hymn to the Mountains"	Kazak Sandak	1:01