IT PROMISES to be one of the most exciting, and utterly different, musical events at this year's Galway International Arts Festival, when the extraordinary tradition of Tuvan/Mongolian throat singing comes to the Róisín Dubh.
Huun-Huur-Tu, from Tuva, a republic of the Russian Federation, situated along the border with Mongolia, play the Róisín on Monday July 15 and Tuesday 16 at 8pm.
The group's most distinctive characteristic is throat singing, in which they sing both the note (drone ) and the drone's overtone(s ), thus producing two or three notes simultaneously. The overtone may sound like a flute, whistle, or bird, but is solely a product of the human voice.
They primarily use native Tuvan instruments such as the igil khomus (jaw harp ), doshpuluur (a long-necked Tuvan lute ), and dünggür (shaman drum ). More recently, they have begun to incorporate the guitar and electronica.
Huun Huur Tu have collaborated with Frank Zappa, The Chieftains, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, and The Kronos Quartet. They recorded the album Eternal with underground electronic musician Carmen Rizzo; and their song 'Osku Urug' is featured on the Fargo episode, 'The Law of Vacant Places'.
Tickets are available from www.giaf.ie
