Tuvan Throat Singing

Tuvan throat singing includes a variety of styles, each of them associated with a different sound in nature. The rhythms of Tuvan songs often simulate the loping gait of horses and horses are one of the sources inspiring Tuvan people’s creativity. Tuvan has been a small inland country with long years of history, which are embodied by their prairie culture and famous as horde. In its history, the culture of Tuvan nation has been influenced stably and essentially by both its geographic and political position. Both of the representation of horse and the special melody are regarded as a way to communicating with nature. They are strongly influenced by the tuvan people’s living environment. They expressing the respect of tuvan nation to the nature. Most themes of Tuvan throat singing songs are closely related with the nature, imitating views like mountains, rivers, bubbling water and so on, or animals such as bears, cricket and birds. Tuvan throat music was regarded as a powerful mental force by Tuvan people in the old time, like the function of music in Shaman culture. Tuvan people think that nature is the source of their lives and power, as gods. Thus Tuvan Throat singing can be considered as a way of Tuvan people to eulogize their deities.

In modern world, modern civilization somehow affects Tuvan throat singing, causing some changes and exposing it to the stage of world. Under the rule of Soviet Union, Tuvan throat singing become more systematic and orderly, but in the same time, it is on the way leaving further and further away from its origin look. Mixed with other styles of music such as electronic, Tuvan throat music become multicultural and diversified. It’s difficult to evaluate whether the influence is positive or not because of its duality. However, I think what we need to focus more on is the spirit and the value of Tuvan culture, and what Tuvan throat singing expresses.