Throat Singing of the Tuvan People

RESOURCES: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvan_throat_singing
http://khoomei.com/types.htm
http://worldmusic.about.com/od/asianmiddleeastern/p/TuvanThroat.htm

I have never heard of throat singing until now. At first I thought it was quite boaring, but then I realized that it is actually quite interesting. It originated in Tibet, Mongolia from the Tuvan tribe. They are located in the Republic of central Asia. They practice mainly Buddhism and Animism which involves the belief that all parts of nature are alive. There are many uses of throat singing, but for the Tuvans’, they use it mainly for chanting. Not only is it found in Mongolia, it can be found in South Africa, Northern Japan, and even South America! The aspect of throat singing varies depending on each tribes religious beliefs.
Throat singing is actually very difficult to master and takes years of practice. Whenever someone speaks or sings, the sound is created when air flowing in or out of the lungs is interrupted by the larynx, or your voice box. The vocal folds open and close to create a steady rhythm of waves which create the sound. When people speak or sing, your vocal tract (where sound travels) gives off certain frequencies when it reaches outside. With throat singing, you have to create an overtone that generates above or below the resonating frequency called biofeedback. To do this, you have to learn to control your vocal folds. You have keep the folds open shorter and closed longer, and when you do keep them closed it gives your upper harmonics more energy which creates a clearer sound. Some techniques that help gain better control is to keep your jaws forward and to narrow or pucker your lips. In order to control your pitch, there are many techniques. One way is to put the tip of your tongue behind your teeth while the middle of your tongue rises. Another way is to simply move your tongue! When you are trying to create low harmonics, you move the base of your tongue to the rear of the throat. When trying to achieve middle to high harmonics, you move the base of your tongue forward until you have created a space from the tongue to the epiglottis. The last way is to slightly move your mouth in careful increments to make it seem like you’re shortening your vocal tract.
With throat singing, not only do you need to know how it works, but you need to know that there are different types or styles of throat singing. The first one is called Khoomei. This is the generic name for throat singing but it is also a style. It is soft, has the effects of clear harmonics, and when it is sung, you can hear two or more notes. This is great to use when you want your voice in the low to mid range. Another form of singing is called Sygyt which is based on the mid range. It is very strong with the harmonics being on the higher side. Sygyt is usually used to perform very complicated melodies which sound like a flute! Ezengileer is yet another style of throat singing that is suppose to resemble the sound metal stirrups make that are on a horse. This is the most common of all styles which involves the opening and closing of the opening of the pharynx and the nasal sinuses.
It is fascinating how much effort it takes to make the noises when throat singing. It is also very cool to learn that there are so many different styles of throat singing. I wonder if I could learn to throat sing, but I think you have to be born into it! Maybe one day this will become the main communication of the world so everyone can communicate easily and with peace.

Check out these videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNb2ZDjeiU4&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTCJ5hedcVA&feature=player_embedded#!