‘I feel Indian music is also very beautiful’

In its 19th year, Ruhaniyat, the flagship festival of Banyan Tree Events, is bringing an evening of soulful music from across the world to the city. The event presents an experience of the combined power of music and spirituality. It is through such events that the audiences get to enjoy all the works of great musicians and mystics. One of the artists who will be performing at Ruhaniyat this year is Aylanmaa Damyran, a throat singer from Tuva Republic, Russia. 

Throat-singing, also called overtone-singing is a range of singing styles in which a single vocalist sounds more than one pitch simultaneously by reinforcing certain harmonics (overtones and undertones) of the fundamental pitch. The Tyvans (residents of Tuva) are said to have developed throat-singing most extensively. There are three broadly acknowledged styles of Tyvan throat-singing — Khöömei, the generic term, which also implies a “soft” style with diffused harmonics above a fundamental drone; Sygyt, with a clear whistlelike melody above a drone; and kargyraa, a low growling that is rich in undertones. Borbangnadyr (or borbannadir; “rolling”), with its pulsating harmonics, and ezenggileer, which imitates the boots of a horseback rider hitting the stirrups, are called styles by some scholars and substyles by others. (Information courtesy: www.britannica.com). 

Excerpts… from an interview with Damyran:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you get into music? 
I was born in a family of shepherds in Bai-Taiga, a remote village in western Tuva, Russia. My paternal grandmother would sing to her animals, and later I realised it was throat singing. My maternal grandmother used to play khomus (mouth harp). I started to study in Kyzyl at an art school in 1992. I was already singing a bit. 
I sing various styles of khöömei. At school, I met the great master Oorzhak Khunashtar-Ool. He was not keeping well but for two months, I took lessons from him. Then his condition worsened and he passed away. But while I was learning from him, he encouraged me to sing khöömei and not be too shy about it. In those times, women’s khöömei was considered a bad omen. Khunashtar-Ool gave me self-confidence and explained to me his sygyt techniques. For the first lesson, he took me outdoors to listen to birds’ chirping. We learn sounds from nature.

You also play Tyvan national instruments Igil, Khomus and Doshpuluur. What made you take up instruments?
The instrument I play — igil — is very rich in sound. It touches deeply and reflects the soul of Tuvan people. I also play all variations of Khomus and I like it a lot. It shows me faraway places, it takes me in trance. My grandmother used to play it very beautifully. I also play byzaanchi — a knee string instrument with a high pitch tone. If one plays it well, the listener feels as if a woman is singing. I also play shaman drum tüngür and sing with it. Apart from music, I also learnt traditional needlework. My speciality is head decorations.

Can you tell us what you will be performing at Ruhaniyat? 
In my short programme, I’ll show various styles of khöömei. I’ll play igil and shaman drum. And also chaa-khomus — a musical bow. All traditional music with my own variation.

What do you feel about the audience in India, who have an inclination towards Indian classical and folk music? 
I think Indian people will be able to appreciate my music because they have such great musical understanding. I’d like to show to Indian audience the power of Tuvan khöömei and share its healing energy. 
I feel Indian music is also very beautiful. It is world famous and it is popular in my country. I’m looking forward to hearing it at the concert. 

One tip for budding artists who want to make a career in vocal as well as in instrumental music. 
My advice to beginner level musicians is to listen to the music a lot with great attention and learn to love music. And as Khunashtar-Ool taught me, ‘Don’t be too shy and don’t be afraid to show your art’.

ST Reader Service 
Ruhaniyat would be held on February 9 from 6.30 pm onwards at Empress Botanical Garden, Camp. Tickets are available at 
www.bookmyshow.com