Biography
All members of Alash were trained in traditional Tuvan music since childhood, first learning from their families, and later becoming students of master throat singers. In 1999, as students at Kyzyl Arts College, they formed a group called Changy-Xaya. They practiced in the damp college basement on Kochetovo Street, and soon became the resident traditional ensemble on campus. At the same time they learned about western music, practiced on hybrid Tuvan-European instruments, and listened to new trends coming out of America. Under the guidance of Kongar-ool Ondar (best known to western audiences for his role in the film Genghis Blues), they began to forge a new musical identity. Alongside their traditional Tuvan instruments, they introduced the guitar and sometimes even the Russian bayan (accordion) into their arrangements. They experimented with new harmonies and song structures. The effect is an intriguing mixture of old and new.
Alash is firmly rooted in both the sonically awesome ancient world of Tuvan music with its sonic communication with nature, and in the global world of diverse music and musical thought. The music of Tuva is unlike any other music in the world, and yet is found approachable by groups as diverse as truckers, frat boys, jazzcats, tour kids, retired people, little kids, and on and on. Indeed, even though the music of Tuva is unique, it blends amazingly well with many different types of music while maintaining its own identity, and this is one of the ensemble's many strong points.
All of the musicians have grown up in a mix of rural, traditional, yurt-dwelling nomadic background and urban education in the capital of Tuva, Kyzyl. They are familiar with the traditions of the ancient past as well as the ways of the modern world.
Recently, Alash member Bady-Dorzhu Ondar was named "People's Xoomeizhi (Throat-Singer) of the Republic of Tuva," and also won the grand prize in the 2008 Symposium of Throat Singing. In the same symposium, Ayan-ool Sam and Ayan Shirizhik won second and third prizes for their solos, and Nachyn and his wife Shonchalai won first prize among groups for their duet.
American-born musician and researcher Sean Quirk serves as presenter and translator at Alash performances. A Fulbright Scholar and Merited Artist of Tuva who has lived in Tuva for five years, Quirk provides a cultural bridge to give audiences deeper insight into the fascinating phenomenon of Tuvan music.
Instrumentation
Nachyn Choodu - Byzaanchy, Chadagan, Vocal
Bady-Dorzhu Ondar - Igil, Bayan, Guitar, Vocal
Ayan-ool Sam - Doshpuluur, Igil, Vocal
Ayan Shirizhik - Murgu, Kengirge, Shynggyraash, Vocal
Discography
Kyzyl-Moscow Festival 2004 (2004, Sketis)
Alash - Live at the Enchanted Garden (2006)
Alash (2007)
Jingle all the Way (2008) [Guest artist on Grammy-winning Flecktones Album]
Links
| http://www.alashensemble.com |