Inner Asian Music

AltaiKAI

THROAT SINGERS OF THE SACRED ALTAI

1st UK Tour July 2008, 

with Carole Pegg

Amyr Akchin: throat-singer, epics, ikili fiddle, bayan accordion

Emil Terkishev: throat-singer, vocals, topshur lute

Sarymai Urchimaev: throat-singer, vocals, sound imitation, khomus jaw’s harp, shoor end-blown flute and topshur lute

Solunai Sapysheva: vocals, shoor end-blown flute, tungur shamanic drum, khomus jaw’s harp.

Urmat Yntaev: founder, artistic director, throat-singer

Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, 8 pm 
(01223 701955)

Voices Across the World, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 1.00 pm 
(0207 240 1200)

WOMAD, Charlton Park, Wiltshire 
(0845 141 1735)
25 July: Little Sicily Tent 7.30 – 8.15 pm
26 July: BBC Radio 3 Stage 7.00 – 8.00 pm

Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd., Canton, Cardiff, 8.00 pm 
(029 2030 4400)

Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedict’s Street, Norwich 
(01603 660 352)

WORKSHOPS

A unique chance to learn with Altai Kai throat-singing (overtone-singing) – the amazing vocal technique in which a single performer produces a drone with flute-like melody above it! Or try Altaian fiddle playing! Carole Pegg will introduce Altaian musical culture (with slides).

Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Cambridge 12.30 – 2.00 pm.

Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Cambridge,Downing Street, Cambridge, 7.00 – 8.30 pm. 
(01223 701905)

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff 2.30 – 4.00 pm

Norwich Arts Centre, 3.00 – 4.30 pm

Journey with AltaiKAI, the latest group to emerge from the throat-singing heartland of Inner Asia, to Altai - believed to be the mythical land of Shambala and the ‘navel’ of the universe. ‘Kai’ is the Altai people’s own distinctive style of throat-singing (overtone-singing), a magical vocal technique in which a single performer produces several simultaneous notes, including overtones and undertones.

The Altai Mountains have a deep influence on the music of AltaiKAI, which exudes both a natural energy and a sense of mystery. Combining the sounds of the natural world with kai vocal textures and a range of traditional instruments, AltaiKAI’s music summons up its spirits of Altai. The band also compose their own songs and music.

Urmat Yntaev formed AltaiKAI in 1997 to safeguard their indigenous traditions in the face of foreign development and migrations threatening their sacred land. KAI is the name of the Altai people’s own distinctive style of throat-singing (overtone-singing), a magical vocal technique in which a single performer creates a melody enriched by spectral overtones and undertones. Because of its links with the spiritual traditions of Altai – epic performance, Shamanism and Buddhism – Altai throat-singing is thought to have developed over centuries and to be the most ancient.

The group has been awarded a string of prizes in its homeland, in the Russian Federation and at international festivals (e.g. the UNESCO prize, Samarkand). In 2006, AltaiKAI toured the USA and took part in a collaborative project in the Czech Republic with the state symphony orchestra. AltaiKAI also played a much-praised showcase concert at WOMEX, Seville, in 2007.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS

We began with Khyrkhaas: Songs of Our Elders, bringing for the first time to the UK musicians from Khakassia, a land of shamans and ancient burial mounds in the golden Sayan-Altaian mountain ring in southern Siberia.

This was followed by Tyva: Spirits of My Land which gave the master throat-singer and wild igil fiddle player Radik Tülüsh - well-known from Yat-kha and Huun-Huur-Tu - the chance to show his stature as a solo performer and skill as a teacher. 

As well as a concert, we offer your audience the rare chance to learn throat-singing and to play Inner Asian instruments from the musicians themselves! They are keen to demonstrate and teach these skills individually or through small group participation.  Carole Pegg lends a hand and uses her own Inner Asian videos, slides to bring to life the music and landscape of the region. 

Both projects involved 8 concerts and 8 workshops with adults and schoolchildren in a range of venues.

Seminars and Lectures

Dr Carole Pegg has lectured and led seminars extensively in the UK (e.g. University of Cambridge), Europe (e.g. France, Germany, Switzerland), the USA, and Asia (e.g. Hong Kong, Mongolia). Carole's talks are illustrated with her own unique videos, slides and musical recordings. Resident in Cambridge, she is available throughout the year.

Consultancy

As a specialist in the arts and culture of Inner Asia with in-depth practical experience in the republics of Tyva, Khakassia and Altai (Russian Federation), Mongolia, and Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang (China), Carole Pegg has acted as consultant for:

• media projects e.g CDs, Discovery channel film music, and the BBC (Ray Mears in Mongolia)
• business projects e.g. travel companies and
• the immigration services.