Changys Baglaash

Khöömei Beat are a young Tyvan (also spelt Tuvan) quintet formed in 2017 who have grown up witnessing the acclaim of fellow South Siberian groups like Huun Huur-Tu and Yat-Kha, who over the past 30 years have been promoting Tyvan music, especially khöömei (throat singing). On Changys Baglaash, the familiar traditional instruments like the igil (two-stringed long-neck fiddle) and outstanding khöömei in its five styles, demonstrated expertly by Aikhan Oorzhak on ‘Traditional Tuvan Khöömei’, are joined by electric bass, electric cello and a drum kit on the other nine pieces. This gives the album more of a folk-rock feel, especially with cellist Aidyng Sedii’s thoughtful arrangements. The most rocky and least traditional track here is the original composition ‘Kochegar’, where the bass and drums kick in and the electric cello comes to the fore. It is about the importance of fire in the community. ‘Changys Baglaash’ sings of the sacred nature and symbolism of the hitching post. There is a Tyvan saying, ‘as long as there is a hitching post, the family is still alive.’ As long as groups like Khöömei Beat are around, the Tyvan musical family will survive.