Throat singers make ECU debut

Alash, a throat singing ensemble from the Republic of Tuva, will perform at East Carolina University for the first time Thursday night at 7:30 in the Wright Auditorium.

The group consists of members Mai-ool Sedip, Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Ayan-ool Sam and Ayan Shirizhik and they will be visiting Greenville as a part of their fourth American tour, serving as an entry in the College of Fine Arts and Communication’s Alexander Series, which gives students a chance to sample world class performing artists.

Alash started in 1999 when four students who had learned the art of throat singing from their families met while attending college, establishing a musical identity of their own by fusing their traditional voices with Western instruments. The group began touring the US in 2006 and have returned every year since, and have performed in concert halls in North America and Europe.

Alexander Series artistic director Michael Crane spoke on the group’s visit and the exposure it can bring to students. Crane said that he believes Alash has a hard time finding high performance levels.

“I don’t think there’s any group out there that performs at this level,” Crane said. “This is probably as exotic as the series has gotten.”

According to Alash’s website, Tuvan throat singing is considered a traditional art, often passed down from family members. Alash’s talents have not only been used to produce five CDs, but also to keep their native culture alive while blending with Western trends.

Crane also expressed his hope for what exposure the cultural side of the performance would do for the students who choose to see it.

“I think that as a student, it’s part of your college experience,” Crane said. “This is your chance to sample from the buffet of culture and make the world a little bit smaller for everyone.”

The band’s first visit to Greenville will also consist of a visit to the local Boys and Girls’ Club, as well as a course in Tuvan cuisine. Alash’s manager and interpreter Sean Quirk recounted its past visits to the United States and the reception they’ve received.

“Alash has a lot of experience coming to the United States and wherever they go, they’ve been met with high levels of enthusiasm,” Quirk said.

With the emphasis on Tuvan culture, Quirk hopes that students will take away from the visit a knowledge of things they may have never known before. He also commented on what the sound of throat singing may seem like to unfamiliar ears.

“It’s a way of using the voice that’s unbelievable to people’s ears, but also very pleasing and melodic. It’s like a whole orchestra that comes from the voice,” Quirk said.

Quirk also placed emphasis on the group’s efforts to blend Eastern vocal techniques with Western musical trends to widen their appeal to a new audience, using instruments such as the guitar and accordion.

The group has been praised for their originality in their music, releasing five CDs since their inaugural North American tour in 2006.

“You can definitely hear it in the arrangements they create. None of it is very blatant, but there’s a lot of subtle influences on the music,” Quirk said.

Tickets for Thursday nights performance are $36 for the general public and $10 for ECU students and can be purchased on the College of Fine Arts and Communication website.