Sonic Meditations
ABOUT
Fifth House Ensemble and internationally acclaimed Tuvan throat singing group Alash cross oceans, borders, and musical traditions. The culmination of a cultural- and continent-spanning collaboration that brought FIfth House to Tuva and Alash to the United States, this communal concert will explore how folk music preserves sacred stories through participatory music-making--including new commissions from Grammy-nominated video game composer Austin WIntory and Fifth House’s own Fresh Inc Festival alumnus William Pearson. Join us as we delve into music both deeply familiar and deeply distant, and create brand-new music with us through guided improvisations that place the audience at the center of the action!
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Program
Oitulaash Xeveri - Alash, arr. Eric Heidbreder
Ondar Girls - Alash, arr. Eric Heidbreder
Mezhegei - Alash, arr. Parker Nelson Penderecki
Sextet Kosh-oi and Torgalyg - Alash, arr. Eric Heidbreder
Reindeer Herder’s Song- Alash, arr. Eric Heidbreder
The Amphibian — William Pearson (commissioned for Fifth House and Alash)
New Commission for Fifth House and Alash - Austin Wintory
Sonic Meditation I: "Teach Yourself to Fly" — Pauline Oliveros
Chaghatai - Alash, arr. Parker Nelson
Blurred - Bill Ryan
Time - Hans Zimmer
media
COLLABORATORS
Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing (xöömei), a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. What distinguishes this gifted trio from earlier generations of Tuvan throat singers is the subtle infusion of modern influences into their traditional music. One can find complex harmonies, western instruments, and contemporary song forms in Alash’s music, but it’s their overall sound and spirit that is decidedly Tuvan.
Trained in traditional Tuvan music since childhood, the Alash musicians studied at Kyzyl Arts College just as Tuva was beginning to open up to the West. They formed a traditional ensemble and won multiple awards for traditional throat singing in international xöömei competitions, both as an ensemble and as individuals. At the same time, they paid close attention to new trends coming out of the West. They have borrowed new ideas that mesh well with the sound and feel of traditional Tuvan music, but they have never sacrificed the integrity of their own heritage in an effort to make their music more hip.
Alash first toured the U.S. under the sponsorship of the Open World Leadership program of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts. Since then they have returned many times, to the delight of American audiences. The Washington Post described their music as “utterly stunning,” quipping that after the performance “audience members picked their jaws up off the floor.”
Alash enjoys collaborating with musicians of all stripes. They appear as guest artists on Béla Fleck & the Flecktones’ holiday CD Jingle All the Way (2008), which won a Grammy. The Denver Post remarked, “As electrifying as the Flecktones’ performance was, the band was nearly upstaged by Alash Ensemble.” Alash also enjoys a longstanding musical partnership with the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra, and they have collaborated with musicians across the spectrum, from country to classical to beatboxing.
Beyond performing, Alash has a passion for teaching and promoting understanding between cultures. Their tours often include workshops that introduce Tuvan music to students from primary, middle and high schools, colleges, universities, and music conservatories. Children as young as 8 have learned to throat-sing. As one student exclaimed, “Alash opened my eyes to a whole new world!”
Performance Video // Trailer
instrumentation
flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, and Alash (vocals, strings, winds, percussion)