Sounds of Siberia: Throat Singing and Jaw Harp Workshop

Following up from the previous evening’s concert, Sounds of Siberia ::: Traditional MUSIC of SAKHA and TUVA, come join both Yuliyana and Nachyn at the Alternative Library for a two-part workshop that will cover basic techniques for both throat singing and playing the khomus (traditional jaw harp) ~

Participation in this class will be extremely limited, due to the size of our space, and advance registration is available via WithFriends: https://withfriends.co/event/3774091/sounds_of_siberia_throat_singing_and_jaw_harp_workshop

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Yuliyana Krivoshapkina is the foremost master of the khomus, a type of jaw harp from the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). When she was just seven years old, Yuliyana began studying the khomus from her mother. She joined the Sakha folk group Ayarkhaan, and the group toured several international festivals, captivating thousands of world music fans with their distinct melodic sound. Today, Yuliyana performs solo and teaches khomus enthusiasts all over the world. Her repertoire is versatile, featuring traditional singing and folk melodies accompanied by the khomus. Yuliyana’s voice and khomus blend to create unique harmony that often evokes feelings of profound wonder.

Audiences might hear the rustle of grass in the wind, the cry of a bird startled into the sky, and the quiet incantations of an ancient shamanic ritual. In 2019, Yuliyana joined renowned Tuvan throat singers Chirgilchin on her first US tour. The experiences on this tour lead to the birth of a new project, Sounds of Siberia, which combines the traditional music of Sakha and Tuva.

Nachyn Choreve is a soloist in the Tuvan State Philharmonic and member of Tuvan psychedelic rock band Hartyga. Hartyga was founded in 2003 and represents the younger generation of Tuvan throat singers. They follow in the footsteps of the legendary Tuvan ethnic rock group Yat-Kha, and in 2017 toured and recorded with Yat-Kha’s iconic frontman, Albert Kuvezin. In September 2019, Nachyn and Hartyga toured the US for the first time with Olympia-based artist Arrington de Dionyso.

Together, Yuliyana and Nachyn transport listeners to the vast expanse of Siberia. Stretching from Tuva in the south to Yakutia in the north, Siberia is a land of mountains, deserts, plains, and tundra. Nachyn’s mastery of the different styles of throat singing takes listeners to the taiga and mountain brooks of Tuva, while Yuliyana brings the sounds of the birds, reindeer, and winds of the endless tundra of Yakutia. At the same time throat singing emerged out of the Tuvan nomadic lifestyle, the khomus became the backbone of Yakutian culture and the tool of powerful shamans. When heard together, these two musical styles are a transformational experience.

RSVP and more info here.