Alash

From TyvaWiki

Alash: Mai-ool Sedip, Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Ayan-ool Sam, Ayan Shirizhik (seated)

Alash is a throat singing group from Tuva. The musicians, Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Ayan-ool Sam, and Mai-ool Sedip, Ayan Shirizhik, were all trained in traditional Tuvan music since childhood. In 1999 while they were students at the Kyzyl Arts College, the young musicians formed a group called Changy-Xaya, which originally included a fifth member, Sergei Sotpa. Changy-Xaya became the school's resident traditional ensemble. At the same time, however, the musicians were learning western musical techniques, and they began incorporating musical elements and non-traditional instruments that meshed well with the sound and feel of traditional Tuvan music. They use old instruments such as the murgu and limpi (wind instruments) that are not frequently played in Tuva today, as well as distinctly western instruments such as guitars and accordions.

Two members of Alash were students of revered master Xoomeizhi (throat-singer) Kongar-ool Ondar at the Republic School of the Arts, and Mr. Ondar has played a key role in the life of the band since its early days as Artistic Director, encouraging and guiding their formation as an ensemble.

In 2004, Alash was awarded first place for an ensemble in the throat singing festival that was held in the Oviur district of Tuva, which borders Mongolia. In 2007, Bady-Dorzhu Ondar was named a "People's Xoomeizhi" of the Republic of Tuva.

Alash toured the United States in 2006, sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. They toured the United States again from April through June 2007 and in January 2008. In addition to concerts, the group conducts workshops at schools and colleges to share their music and culture with American young people.

Sean Quirk, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA), is the group's manager, producer, and interpreter. He studied music in Tuva on a Fulbright Fellowship, and now makes Tuva his home. Sean and the other members of Alash are also members of the Tuvan National Orchestra.

The CD Alash Live at the Enchanted Garden is a recording of the group's live performance at the Enchanted Garden in Ridgefield, CT, USA on March 17, 2006. They released a second CD, titled simply Alash in April 2007.