Decision letter: Overtone focusing in biphonic tuvan throat singing

The author of this paper will examine the role of both improvisation and memorisation in the oral performances of the Altai epics. In order to do this, initially the author will describe for the reader the Altai epics, their plots, the values that they reinforce, the singer and his instrument. Then, based on a discussion about the context in which the epic is performed and the poetic features of the epics, this paper will explore the theory that the epic teller is not repeating an exact text but is improvising and composing throughout the performance of the epic, producing a different version each time. The author bases her research in particular on several personal interviews with oral epic singers in the Altai Republic. One of these interviews was with Anatoly Turlunov from the Kosh-Agach district, who is a famous performer of the epic in the Altai Republic and now teaches throat singing. The second was with Nikolai Sergetkishov, a young epic singer living in Gorno-Altaisk, who is trying to revive the tradition of epic storytelling. The final interviews were with Aydin Kurmanov, also a famous epic singer in the Altai Republic, who received many awards for his performances, and Yuri Chendeev, a musician who created his own Altai musical ensemble, and currently teaches music. Автор данной статьи рассматривает роль импровизации и запоминания в вопросе устного исполнения алтайского эпоса. Для этой цели автор вначале описывает алтайский эпос, его сюжеты, ценности, которые они утверждают, исполнителя и его музыкальный инструмент. Затем, основываясь на анализе среды, в которой исполняется эпос, и поэтических особенностей эпоса, в статье рассматривается теория о том, что сказитель эпоса не повторяет точный текст, а импровизирует и сочиняет на протяжении всего исполнения эпоса, каждый раз создавая новую версию. Исследование автора строится, в частности, на нескольких личных интервью с исполнителями устного эпоса в Республике Алтай. Одно из таких интервью прошло с Анатолием Турлуновым из района Кош-Агач, который является известным исполнителем эпоса в Республике Алтай и сейчас преподает горловое пение. Второе было с Николаем Сергеткишовым, молодым эпическим певцом, живущим в Горно-Алтайске, который старается возродить традицию эпического повествования. Заключительные интервью были с Айдыном Курмановым, также известным эпическим певцом в Республике Алтай, который получил множество наград за свои выступления, и Юрием Чендеевым, музыкантом, который создал свой алтайский музыкальный ансамбль, а в настоящее время преподает музыку.

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Overtone focusing in biphonic tuvan throat singing

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.50476 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christopher Bergevin ◽

Chandan Narayan ◽

Joy Williams ◽

Natasha Mhatre ◽

Jennifer KE Steeves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sound Production ◽

Vocal Tract ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Frequency Range ◽

Vocal Cords ◽

Singing Style ◽

Narrow Frequency Range ◽

The Republic ◽

Throat Singing

Khoomei is a unique singing style originating from the republic of Tuva in central Asia. Singers produce two pitches simultaneously: a booming low-frequency rumble alongside a hovering high-pitched whistle-like tone. The biomechanics of this biphonation are not well-understood. Here, we use sound analysis, dynamic magnetic resonance imaging, and vocal tract modeling to demonstrate how biphonation is achieved by modulating vocal tract morphology. Tuvan singers show remarkable control in shaping their vocal tract to narrowly focus the harmonics (or overtones) emanating from their vocal cords. The biphonic sound is a combination of the fundamental pitch and a focused filter state, which is at the higher pitch (1–2 kHz) and formed by merging two formants, thereby greatly enhancing sound-production in a very narrow frequency range. Most importantly, we demonstrate that this biphonation is a phenomenon arising from linear filtering rather than from a nonlinear source.

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Transpersonal Effects of Exposure to Shamanic Use of Khoomei (Tuvan Throat Singing): Preliminary Evaluations from Training Seminars

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies ◽

10.24972/ijts.2012.31.2.111 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 111-117

Author(s):

Vladislav Matrenitsky ◽

◽

Harris L. Friedman ◽

Keyword(s):

Throat Singing

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Mamaqtuq! by The Jerry Cans

The Deakin Review of Children s Literature ◽

10.20361/dr29348 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Sandy Campbell

Keyword(s):

Elementary School ◽

School Libraries ◽

Health Sciences ◽

University Of Alberta ◽

Throat Singing ◽

The University ◽

Early Reader ◽

Good Presentation

The Jerry Cans. Mamaqtuq! Illustrated by Eric Kim. Inhabit Media, 2018.Mamaqtuq! means “delicious”. This delightful Inuit board book tells a simple story of hunting all day for seal, running out of provisions and finally finding and catching a seal. It is written in Inuktitut and English, appropriately, at an early reader level. Erik Kim’s cartoon-like illustrations are bright, fun, and representative of the hunters, their clothing, and the environment. The book contains images of people using hunting rifles, but there are no images of seals being killed. As a stand-alone book it is a very good presentation of traditional hunting. However, the book is just one half of the story. The authors, The Jerry Cans, are a band from Iqualuit, whose music is a “unique mix of Inuktitut alt-country, throat singing and reggae.” The words in the Mamaqtuq! are the lyrics to a song. You can see the YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DueVqYKWQxE. The piece looks like a skit, with a cardboard boat and people waving cloth to make waves. The seal is played by a young man, so the shooting part is a little more disturbing than in the book. There is also a realistic scene of lead vocalist, Andrew Morrison, eating raw, bloody meat. However, the production is exuberant, even festive, fun, and true to the culture. The book is highly recommended for elementary school libraries and public libraries.Recommendation: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines. Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.

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