…at once primordial, spine-tingling, and stunningly beautiful. - THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT

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A legendary group who have taken the ancient music of the steppes of Tuva to a worldwide audience returns to Toronto after a four year absence. The unique, otherworldly power of Huun Huur Tu's traditional overtone singing is unlike anything else in contemporary music and makes for an unforgettable experience.

The whistling of the high-mountain wind forms eerie overtones and provides the basis of a postmodern statement. The repeated thrum of a string against wood and hide turns into a meditative, evocative figure straight from the avant garde. The descendents of isolated Siberian herdsmen make serious, strangely universal music out of some of the planets quirkiest acoustics.

The most distinctive characteristic of Huun Huur Tu's music is throat singing, in which the singers sing both the note (drone) and the drone's overtone(s), thus producing two or three notes simultaneously. The overtone may sound like a flute, whistle or bird, but is solely a product of the human voice.



As they began touring in the West seventeen years ago, Huun Huur Tu almost single-handedly introduced the outside world to the boundless wealth of Tuvan traditions, thanks in great part to their superior musicianship. Hailing from the high pastures of the Altai Mountains in south central Siberia, the musicians have spent decades honing the overtone singing, instrumental approaches, and vibrant songs of their home.

The group primarily uses native Tuvan instruments such as the igil, khomus (Tuvan jaw harp), doshpuluur, and dünggür (shaman drum). However, in recent years, the group has begun to selectively incorporate western instruments, such as the guitar. While the thrust of Huun Huur Tu's music is fundamentally indigenous folk music, Huun Huur Tu have taken the traditions of their home into the modern age, with numerous adventures in collaboration. From performances and recordings with the amazing Bulgarian State Female Choir to explorations in electronica with producer Carmen Rizzo, the group have demonstrated a knack for intelligent innovation.