The Metro Charleston music scene offered up a rare treat when Tuvan throat singing trio Alash played a free show recently at St. John the Beloved Catholic Church in Summerville.
While difficult to describe succinctly, the singing relies heavily on harmonics and, at times, features the singer producing multiple notes simultaneously. Traditional folk guitar, flute, and drum often round out the performance.
Currently on tour promoting their third album, Achai, Alash is comprised of Ayan-ool Sam, Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, and Ayan Shirizhik, all deeply experienced musicians who have been performing since they were young children.
The band is managed by a witty American who moved to Tuva over a decade ago to study throat singing. He never left. Now along with the three members of the band, he helps spread Tuvan culture wherever he can.
"For those of you who don’t speak Tuvan,” he joked to the nearly sold out audience at the church, "let me tell you tell you what that last song was about.” Fluent in the language, he told us it was an enjoinder to come and help tend the reindeer. Historically, most of the people of the tiny nation just north of Mongolia were nomadic herdsmen.
We learned that while Tuva is now part of the Russian Federation, the people do not consider themselves Russian. Nor do they consider themselves Mongolian. They are Tuvan. They have their own language, their own music. Indeed, some maintain this unique tradition of throat singing has been around since before people invented language. "So just sit back, listen, and enjoy,” said the manager.
On stage, the three members of Alash, resplendent in their traditional Tuvan dress sat with broad smiles on their faces. Then, one hit the drum, and we were instantly pulled into the rapture of the next song.
Doug Yates firmly believes Nietzsche’s aphorism, "How little is required for pleasure! The sound of a bagpipe. Without music, life would be an error.” Coincidentally, Yates happens to be a bagpipe player, playing for weddings and special occasions throughout the Lowcountry. After spending a dozen or so years as an English teacher, he now makes a living as a writing consultant. He lives with his family in Mount Pleasant. Doug Yates can be reached at dtyates@usa.net.
