Throat-Singers of Tuva

Huun-Huur-Tu (Tuvan: xün xürtü) literally means "sun propeller." The vertical separation of light rays that often occurs just after sunrise or just before sunset. For the members of Huun-Huur-Tu, the refraction of light that produces these rays seems analogous to the "refraction" of sound that produces articulated harmonics in Tuvan throat-singing.

NEW!!  HHT is about to release a DVD titled "Been Away For a While... Huun Huur Tu in Tuva". The DVD will be for sale during the upcoming October - November tour in the US. Here is a 'work-in-progress' taste of HHT's 'Coming home to Tuva':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGaTLs-GsFw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzK5RicBi70

Watch HHT on YouTube at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, August 2006:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVkJ1Bf-QzU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxK4pQgVvfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85rQuxEk5Lo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXNrs1dS94U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtnMmYx0vLU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB3SrxCAxhs

Recent HHT CDs released in the US are available through Amazon:

HHT released "ALTAI SAYAN TANDY-UULA" featuring Andrey Mongush. More info can be obtained from Greenwave US representative Vladimir Oboronko

The latest book by Ted Levin and Valentina Suzukei "Where Rivers and Mountains Sing: Sound, Music, And Nomadism in Tuva And Beyond", Indiana University Press March 2006, hardcover, contains a CD and DVD, and is available at

Ted Levin's previous book "The Hundred Thousand Fools of God: Musical Travels in Central Asia (and Queens, New York)", Indiana University Press 1997, is available at

Check out NPR's Next Big Thing for a brief program on the HHT - Hazmat Modine cooperation.

For more news about throat-singing, visit Steve Sklar's Khöömei Page and get on the email list by emailing Steve.

The September 1999 issue of  Scientific American featured an article on Tuvan throat singing,  by Ted Levin and Mike Edgerton.

Last updated September 17, 2008