AAVV
Altai : Le Chant des Montagnes d'Or
BUDA 3017818
World Music
3259130178180
Buda
Russia
The Altaian people live in the Altai krai and mainly in the Altai Republic. Altaians practice several forms of throat song with various techniques: kai, karkiraa, komoi, sikit, sybsysky, sygyt; the five last ones are overtone singing, i.e. the singer emits a fundamental note and harmonics at the same time. There are numerous occasions to listen to them, in village celebrations and cultural centres as well as in the theatres of Gorno-Altaisk. The most commonly found instrument is the two-string lute topsuur, notably used to accompany epics. Altaians also play a two-string fiddle, the ikili, as well as three kinds of flutes — sibiski soor and komurgaï — the homus jaw harp and the dünmür frame drum, once used for shamanic rituals.