Alash
Alash, a trio of master throat singers (xöömeizhi) from Tuva, takes its name from
the Alash River, which runs through the northwestern region of Tuva. Inspired by the music
of their grandparents, great-grandparents, and the great musicians of Tuva and Central
Asia, the Alash members have also been influenced by such Western artists as Sun Ra and
Jimi Hendrix. 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 the Kyzyl Arts College, they formed a group called Changy-Xaya that
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. They introduced the guitar and sometimes even the Russian
bayan (accordion) into their arrangements, alongside their traditional Tuvan
instruments. They experimented with new harmonies and song structures, producing an
intriguing mixture of old and new.
Alash's inaugural US tour was sponsored in 2006 by the Open World Leadership program of
the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts. Since then, the ensemble
has toured extensively. Working across musical genres, Alash has collaborated with such
diverse groups as the Sun Ra Arkestra, The Horse Flies, and musicians from the Chamber
Music Society of Lincoln Center's Student Producers program. They also made a guest
appearance on the Grammy-winning holiday CD Jingle All the Way by Béla Fleck
and the Flecktones.
Both the Alash ensemble and individual members have won top honors in throat singing
competitions. The ensemble was awarded first prize in Tuva's International Xöömei Symposium
competition in 2004. Alash members play in the Tuvan National Orchestra, which has won both
first prize and grand prize in the All-Russia National Orchestra and Ensemble
Competition.
Bady-Dorzhu Ondar was born in 1984 in the small village of Iyme. At age four, he
was discovered by Kongar-ool Ondar, who took him on as a student. A few years later,
Kongar-ool brought along his young protégé when he toured the United States, where they
appeared on the David Letterman and Chevy Chase shows. Bady-Dorzhu has a bachelor's degree
from the Kyzyl Arts College and master's degree from the East Siberia State Academy of
Culture and Art in Ulan-Ude. He has toured Russia, Europe, Canada, and the United States.
He won best soloist at the 2005 All-Russia National Orchestra and Ensemble Competition, and
best in competition at the 2006 Maxim Dakpai xöömei contest. In 2007, he was named
a "People's Xöömeizhi" of the Republic of Tuva, the youngest person ever to receive this
prestigious award for throat singing. At the 2008 Xöömei Symposium, Bady-Dorzhu was awarded
grand prize. He specializes in the kargyraa style of throat singing, and is
especially accomplished on the igil and the guitar, being a great fan of Jimi
Hendrix.
Ayan-ool Sam was born in 1983 in the Erzin Kozhuun region of Tuva. When he was in
the fourth grade, he began studying with Kongar-ool Ondar at the Republic School for the
Arts in Kyzyl. After completing a bachelor's degree at the Kyzyl Arts College, he continued
his studies at the Moscow State Pedagogical University. Ayan-ool has toured Russia, Taiwan,
Europe, and the United States. He was awarded first prize for throat singing at the 2008
Xöömei Symposium, and grand prize at Dembildei in 2010 and 2012. He performs all styles of
Tuvan throat singing and is best known for his exceptional ezenggileer style. He
plays all the traditional Tuvan instruments, with particular emphasis on the
doshpuluur.
Ayan Shirizhik was born in 1982 in Bai-Xaak, and started singing when he
was very young. When his family moved to Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva, he began studying and
performing with Andrei Mongush, the singer from Huun-Huur-Tu. He completed a bachelor's
degree at the Kyzyl Arts College and a master's at the East Siberia State Academy of
Culture and Art in Ulan-Ude. Ayan has toured Russia, Europe, and the United States. He was
awarded second prize for throat singing at the 2008 Xöömei Symposium, and in 2009 he was
awarded the title "Merited Artist of Tuva." He performs all styles of Tuvan throat singing
and is particularly noted for his mastery of borbangnadyr. He plays all the
traditional Tuvan instruments and is especially accomplished on the
kengirge.
Sean Quirk came to Tuva on a Fulbright fellowship in 2003 and has remained there
since, becoming a Distinguished Artist of Tuva in 2008.