Throat Singing

In his book, Goldman explores the history of 'throat singing', or overtone singing. Old Wikipedia defines overtone singing as:

a type of singing in which the singer manipulates the resonances created as air travels from the lungs, past the vocal folds, and out the lips to produce a melody.

The partials of a sound wave made by the human voice can be selectively amplified by changing the shape of the resonant cavities of the mouth, larynx, and pharynx. This resonant tuning allows the singer to create apparently more than one pitch at the same time, while in effect still generating a single fundamental frequency with their vocal fold.

Different groups of people, all over the world, have utilized this type of singing. It really is beautiful. Gyuto and Gyume are both tantric colleges originally located in Tibet. The names describe the geographical locations of the tantric colleges in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Singers utilize this "One Voice Chord", and Goldman describes his experience:"

“...monks sang a fundamentaltone that was so deep and low it sounded like the growl of a wild animal. It was inhumanly low, impossibly deep and there were other tones along with this that sounded like a schoolboy choir singing in falsetto. "(p.6)

Some say this form of singing can be taught and learned in schools (as in Mongolia), and others say it is a gift given by elders or learned vicariously through experience. In the video below, a man describes his methods of singing in the traditional Mongolian way



This is the type of singing known as "Tuvan Throat Singing". Goldman relates how this type of singing has roots in shamanic and mystical practices, quoting Ted Levin's thoughts on hoomi in Tuva: Voices from the Center of Asia:

..."In the traditional sound world of present-day Tuva, throat-singing is still intimately connected to nature... Throat-singing seems to have served traditionally as a means of responding to states of heightened feelings brought on by exaltation at the beauty of nature. Walking alone on the grasslands, herders sang not for one another, but for themselves for the mountains and for the steppe."

It has been speculated that this form of singing is only for men, but I had the privilege a few years ago of seeing a troupe of Tuvan Throat-Singing Sisters, and they performed awesomely. Supposedly women have just as much ability to sing, but the sounds can jeopardize their fertility?? I dunno about that.. Of course there is also speculation that recording these singers or marketing upon their talents strips the gift of its spiritual or mystical worth. Also up for discussion.

Below is a documentary about some Bulgarian women singers and Kate Bush. While they aren't exactly throat singing, I still find the video and sounds fascinating and beautiful. And I love Kate Bush. She comes in after about 17 minutes.