BIG
SKY
Well folks, you have it all wrong, Although "exotic", Khoomei or xöömij is a central asian overtone singing technique (throat singing). The khoomei singer can produce several sounds that are crystal clear, flute like and definitely heavenly.
Sounds far fetched don't it. I can see your eyes bulging in disbelief. "Guy's got a bat in the bellfry". "Flight simming got to his overworked brain cells". If you care to read the whole page and follow the links, you'll see (and hear) that overtone singing can be quite an heavenly experience. I kid you not.
How did it all start. Quite simply, I must say, I "stumbled" on Big Sky's page at mp3.com and what I heard on the Siberia title gave me the biggest intellectual orgasm I ever experienced. I had some prior singing experience (choir, jazz, blues) but this beat it all.
The very next day I pitter pattered on down to my local CD shop and searched for any CD that would include Khoomei. I was lucky and found The Last And Only CD they had : Huun-Huur-Tu: the Orphan's Lament. Man what a mind blowing experience! (For more information on Huun-Huur-Tu, please visit the Official Huun-Huur-Tu Site maintained by Ingrid Verhamme).
I visited a few web sites (list at bottom) and got in touch with a few people. I'm greatly indebted to Steve Sklar who started this passion. Go see Steve's Big Sky page and don't miss his impressive Khoomei page! A must for any wannabe Khoomei singer. Download the sound and movie files and get ready for a mind blowing experience!
Ok now, what? I had the CD, a few links and my goodwill. So I started practicing overtone singing on my own. Despite the many online explanations on how to throat sing, I had a definite feeling that something was missing. Oh...I could utter a faint whistle allright and I knew that it would take a long time before I could really do a satisfactory tune. At the time of this writing, I'm just starting to supress the drone and the "whistling" part is now much louder.
Luck has it that Prof. Trân Quang Hai made several TV appearances on talk shows. He did some extraodinary overtone singing and boasted (Sorry Hai, I couldn't leave this bit out <VBG>) that he could teach anyone the proper technique in just 2 1/2 minute. Well I have to admit that he was right <g> Although it did take a few hours (more on this below). I found out that that he held Khoomei worshops every three month. Wow! I couldn't miss that now could I?
I attended his workshop and the way he took time to explain and show us the technique, correcting each other in turn (and not "just listen to me and you'll learn" as some wannabe khoomei gurus do) had us "sing" that beautiful sound in a few hours. Notice that I did not say music! Hai's job was to give us the key to Khoomei and it is now up to us to practice and do what we want with it.
Who is Trân Quang Hai? He is an ethnomusicologist working for the National Scientific Research Center (CNRS) in Paris, France. Hai can sing from a low growl to a castrato high (yes, yes, I heard him!!). He can also play anything from a Jews's Harp (you should hear his rendition of techno music!) to spoons (fastest spoon player this side of the Milky Way). Give him two rocks and he'll probably play Beethoven's fifth! Hai is also a musician who performed in many international music festival. I couldn't complete this paragraph without saying that he is also a very nice person.
Go to this page for Trân Quang Hai's workshops and lectures schedule.
LINKS on throat singing
First of all, the wannabe Khoomei singer must practice. Unfortunately Khoomei excercise books are very rare. Well, I did find one shop in the UK that has such a valuable item."Overtone Singing Study Guide". The book and CD was made by Rollin Rachele. It is published by Cryptic Voices. Check out the Books and Cd's link. At this time I have not yet seen the book nor heard the CD and will give you my impressions when I get it.
What else? For starters, I would suggest Steve Sklar's Khoomei page. You will find many good links as well as sound and video samples.Then go to Sami Jansson's page.The Saporro Throat Singing Society. Another Japanese Khoomey source here. (a bit outdated but check out their "Friendly link" links). You'll find many other links from any one of the above web sites. I'm real bad with setting up links and really don't have as much time as all the other Khoomei afficionados have.
OK...All for now. I just wanted to introduce a new singing method that has been around for a long time in Central Asia and some fabulous people who contribute to Khoomei. If you're into Khoomei, let me know about it and i'll gladly add your link.
Groups and Singers
David
Hykes and the Harmonic Choir
OFFICIAL
HUUN-HUUR-TU web site
Newsgroup
Downloads
CADUCEUS: Resource
Guide to Overtone Singing by Brian Lee <Download>
(14 K)
RELISOFT: Use this Sound
Frequency Analyser to see your hamonics when practicing overtones <Download>
(32K)
CNRS Audiovisuel: Laboratoire
d’Etudes d’Ethnomusicologie and SFE : <Download>
(86k) Web site
Trân Quang Hai:
Survey of overtone singing style in tuva : <Download>
(7k) Web site
Trân Quang Hai:
Method of learning overtone / singing khoomey : <Download>
(9k) Web site
Trân Quang Hai:
List of websites on overtone / khoomey : <Download>
(11k)
My CD collection
Links to other Overtone related web sites
"International Jew's Harp Festival / Molln Austria 98"
:
46 musical pieces from 18 countries (2CDs). Two are overtone and Jew's
Harp pieces played by Trân Quang Hai.
Contact:
Osterreichischer Maultrommelverein
Postfach A-4591 MOLLN
Austria
E-mail: mautrommel@stn.at
Home page: http://www.stn.at/homes/maultrommel
Overtone exercises CD
ARJOPA, Choomii - das mongolische Obertonsingen (Xoomij - Mongol Overtone
singing)
20 overtone exercises. Two pieces with instruments show how overtones
are used in contemporary musical creations.
Contact:
Zweitausendeins
Postfach
D-60381 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Home page: http://www.zweitausendeins.de
And just for the heck of it, here'sssssssssssss a chip off the old block!
My son Vladimir (3 1/2) doing some rolls! He and his sister love HHT.
(you can't really see it, but it's really a 13 piece drum set....takes
an awful lot of space!)
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