GALWAY HAS been treated to some superb displays of Tuvan throat singing over the past 18 months, and will be again, when the award winning Alash Ensemble play the Róisín Dubh.
The ensemble, from Tuvan in south central Russia, play the Dominick Street venue on Sunday September 22 at 8pm. The Washington Post called their music “utterly stunning,” and noted after one concert how “audience members picked their jaws up off the floor". Songlines described them as "astonishing in various styles of throat singing, from frightening growls to otherworldly overtone whistles...The result came close to magic."The Tuvan and Mongolian throat singing tradition (Xöömei ) is a remarkable technique which allows for singing multiple pitches at the same time. As well as touring, Alash are involved in music education for students in primary and secondary education, as well as colleges, universities, and music conservatories. They have also released four albums.
While deeply rooted in their traditional culture, Alash have successfully incorporated western instruments and influences into their music. They have also collaborated with members of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Chicago’s Fifth House Ensemble, and Béla Fleck, appearing on his 2008 Grammy Award winning album, Jingle All The Way.
Alash are Bady-Dorzhu Ondar (vocals, guitar, and igil, a two-stringed Tuvan instrument ), winner of the Best soloist, 2005 All-Russian Festival of traditional ensembles and orchestras, and the Grand prize at the 2008 International Xöömei Symposium; Ayan-ool Sam: vocals, igil, guitar, and doshpuluur, a Tuvan lute ), winner of first prize at the 2008 International Xöömei Symposium; and Ayan Shirizhik (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist ), named distinguished Artist of Tuva 2009.
Tickets are available from www.roisindubh.net; the Ticket Desk at OMG@Zhivago, Shop Street; and The Róisín Dubh.
