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That guy is just great in his way! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj9bd-AMHhM He also does overtone singings, here a quiet, but nice traditional song (Japanese in this case) with a two stringed Tuvan (google Tuva, the heart of overtone and throat singings) instrument. He is a real bird here, when it comes to overtones. Try that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwD3N2Q0QKI Again, a great video, not the quality of the video though, but give it a full listening, very enjoyable then! I could hardly believe this. . .simply amazing http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1716563725465839250 Also he is touring as a member of an interesting modern dance project, which will be in Luxembourg by the end of march (The other participants seem to be as interesting). For those who are somewhat near the next days. More infos here: http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/culture/new/0903/03_02.html

I simply love the Jew's harp and have been playing them practically all my life. The overtone stuff that this guy does is really nice. Forms of this instrument exist all over the world. It's pretty amazing really. Here is a Chinese version called Kou Xiang. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjZKDqcKLyg

Here's another amazing Jew's harp player for you, parts 1 & 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnMXzCGNPSo&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDdG97MesZM&feature=related

Now this woman is truly amazing. Again on the Chinese Jew's harp, the Kou Xiang. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsv2zvVoeWs&feature=related

Ma Guo Guo again, this time using a bamboo harp. These are popular in places like Vietnam and Cambodia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpnQEQrOCz4&feature=related

WOW, I fall in love with all that and all these video examples around! It looks like an amazing journey, indeed! Thanks a lot for the other ones, Nechesh, I just get completely absorbed myself! We had quite something in the 70ties already, but not half as adventurous as nowadays. And I just realised, we had (and hopefully still have) an according festival nearby, Leipzig. And I missed the concert here in Berlin, in the museum Dahlem. Thats all something for the WOMAD, I guess. And imagine the visitors all trying it out then, one birdy after another, lol. Can you remember, ever hearing some of that stuff on Peter's works?

Yes, the Leipzig Fest is supposed to be a big one. And there is another big one that happens in Hungary. Unfortunately none here in the States that i am aware of. The instrument isn't taken nearly as seriously over here as it is on your side of the pond. Here's one more extraordinary player with yet a different style of harp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6XRErA7VU&feature=related And if anyone wants to see just how many styles there are check out this website. I believe they are also in your neck of the woods Bettina. http://danmoi.de/shop/index.php?main_page=index&language=en&zenid=c3089e0b8bef7fefc7d70cf0dd049226

Its the future, people! Also the connected new systems and flutes etc. I can also hear a duet with such a harp player and a singer right now. Overtone singer, of course. If connected, we should have quite something going on the next time. . . We have a new overtone-workshop here next (if I can afford it, that is), this time someone from Vietnam, for a change. And a friend just decided to make an event with according paintings at the same time, the (experimental, spontaneous) music goes. Which was done some time ago by a japanese painter friend and a chinese musician (Wu Wei) on the chinese mouth organ (Sheng), a much bigger instrument, but also interesting! (Maybe some remember the according post here) You can find quite something on youtube from that chinese wizard actually (just try "Wu Wei Sheng", he also has an own channel there) does everything, from classical chinese uses via classical western to Jazz and completely experimental. An unstoppable cooperator in all fields. He would as well go together with the harps and the singings, in my opinion. All stuff for any WOMAD, where have they been??

Now you've done it! You made me break out my own Jew's harp collection and start playing myself! :-]

Happy to hear this, Nechesh, anything that cheers you up! You have paid it back with lots of fine links and further ideas. . .I am all cheered up myself. . . And as for any lunatic meeting (for everyone), mouth harps are easy to carry with you, apart from your own voice, of course!

Synnie, the 1st time I got in touch with (or better get to listen t) "throat-singing" was on the Real World - album from "Shu-De" a group from Tuva (northern Mongolia, Russian border) - the album has got not only a great cover (check it out on the Real World-site), the music is also interesting and fine.

Sounds great! But they should bring all that UP again. I will check for sure, Cimber. Thanks a lot! As for Nechesh, our posts must have crossed a few times on the former page. I checked your last offered video, yes, I hardly see that kind hereabout, but the guy seems to do other intruments as well(as do many) The link to the homepage is very interesting! Although you may now think, I am completely off my toes, but there is something, that I like, for presents or whatever. Did you see the little wooden frogs? Cheap and well designed for acoustic reasons. LOL. If I ever come around their place, I'll get some. And around the first link I found an interesting beatboxer, that I would like to post too (I just have a strong faible for such things. . .), interesting, he calls himself Dome. . .: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeRAUeeRWKU I really like this! It reminds me on some very special nomadic sessions in North Africa, for example Touareg (I have been very much into them for longer, also via music and some friends also managed to see them) etc. They have a kind of waterdrum amongst others, that I admire. It is played by women, actually. I wish, my voice could copy that sound, and many others there too, particularly some female ones. Their high vibrational "Tirilit" is wellknown, for example. :-]

The album by "Shu-de" for Real World is called "Voices from the distant Steppe" - I think, you can also click to listen to some of the tracks. One of the last releases on Real World also feature a Tuareg group. "Throat-singing" must be a very old and ancient style of singing. Similar syles of this can be heard in some European regions (mountains) too. (not real throat-singing but reminding).

Thanks, I will check in time, for sure ! I am just preparing to go to a workshop about asian intruments (Sheng amongst it, actually) in out Academy of Arts, followed by a fine concert with this new group. Yes, I love to listen to that Touareg group as well, and did ever so often. The advert is on for quite a while already. As for the European regions, the funny thing is, the Jodel-Techniques are not far from the throatsinging ones, and in some near asian regions, they also have some according jodel parts in their songs, often wedding songs. All these techniques must also have to do with a kind of long distance communication (yes, the overtone and jews harp ones too), it probably has to do with the frequencies. . .like those of whales for instance. However, it is based on ancient shepherd songs and how also animals react to them, plus certain shamanistic sounds, that are still alive in many parts of the world, not just drummming, but also via voice. If you have ever tried such throatsingings, or jews harps yourself, you may know, how it effects you immediately, if done the right way. It creates a kind of natural high and tickles the top of your headskin, electrifies you, with other words. No wonder, animals for example give more milk for instance or are easier to handle then, mating offers are more successfull etc. etc. Not to speak about the colours and pictures it evokes in Synaesthetes, a natural form of reaction, that we often lost, but can gain again. And pleasure (about all this, not just the syn. ones) is a key for all parts of the world. If these sounds grow again, it might also train/wake up oldest skills, understandings. The Japanese seem to be right into this as well, they also found some relations via their Ainus, for example. As much as any didgeridoo adds to this etc. etc. The musical move is by far not only into the artificial sounds, but also into the old knowledges, plus new mixes of both. Highly interesting, I think.

The album is called "Ishumar" by Tuareg group "Toumast". I haven`t listened to it yet, but there are also audio-samples on the Real World Records-site. Another acts with "similar reminding vocals" on Real World Records are : - "Tenores di Bitti" from Sardinia with their album "S`amore `e mama" (good album !) - "The Tsinandali Choir" from Georgia(Caucasus) . . .it`s an "Eurasian" connection there with this vocal-style on Real World. The "Jodel-technique" from the Alps you mentioned can also be heard even on the Canarian-Islands(Spain), where it is still used as a form of communication, i believe. Yes, of course ALSO the Shamanastic sounds. . .

Yes, I listened to the Real World samples of Toumas and I like them, although I once bought a record with original Tuareg music. They had that record over in Bristol, just when I visited Peter. Now it is a treasure. We also talked about the Sardinians here some time ago. There are quite some youtube videos with them, actually. I once heard another Georgian choir here in Potsdam, some years ago, and I bought their CD, it is still amongst my favourites! Well, to my knowledge, these connections are still kind of underrated. A bit now and then does not cover the real range or connections. Here in Berlin we always have a new Eurasian group (we always had loads here, probably due to our geographical location). I just come back from them. It turned out, that my dear friend Wu Wei was playing with them(BINGO!!!), and since it was an easy contact over there, we had some words then. He is such a sweetheart too (and a genius, who plays many instruments. I should have asked him about them, maybe next time). Everybody was absolutely first class and as sensitive as could be. As peacefull as thrilling as humourous. And as WU WEI rightly said, within their own countries over there, they may not be able to assemble in this way, because of loads of political errors/misunderstandings. But here they can, plus go on from here, without looking back, as he also said. And they wish to stay together for longer now. A wonderfull Korean/Chinese/Japanese/German mix/synthesis, including some composers, who were also here. I also had a few words with the higly pregnant korean composer later. She confirmed my guesses/impressions about the backgrounds and even knew my korean P'ansori(korean trad. epic songstyle-) teacher! Its just such a pleasure, to see my main asian links combined in this group of lovely skilled people!!! No voices though, but other instruments tried to catch that feeling brilliantly (sheng, violin, bass, koto) It is more a mix for experimental and E-music-matters, but most brilliantly. It could have gone on forever. I was completely high! Somehow still am. . . They made videos from the concert, so we will have it on youtube soon. It would be nothing for WOMAD thus, because too artfull, except one or two pieces, but I don't care. I am just so happy right now And on sunday (today!)afternoon, we sing again, rehearse would be a better word now. I'll ask about the canarian jodel then, promised.