East meets West at the Amharclann in Gaoth Dobhair

If you happened to be passing the Amharclann in Gaoth Dobhair last night (Thursday) you could be forgiven for thinking something unworldly was happening.

Apart from enthusiastic clapping, whistles, and the occasional 'Hup' it was, in fact, the unique noise of four throat singers from the independent republic of Tuva which is in the Russian Federation located south of Siberia near Mongolia.

Huun-Huur-Tu, meaning sunbeams or literally sun propellers, were on stage for their first visit to Donegal. Indeed this was probably the first-ever throat singing performance in the county and by the end of the 90-minute show, they had won over an entirely new bunch of fans.

The throat singing quartet used both a note and its overtones, thus producing two or three notes simultaneously.

The songs were about romantic love, love of place, and (not least) horses, with moods that ranged from lyrical and thoughtful to joyful, humorous, and danceable.

With the subject matter steeped in Tuvan folklore, the ensemble wore traditional garb and accompanied the lyrics on native Tuvan string and percussion instruments such as the Igil, Khomus (Tuvan jaw harp), Doshpuluur, and Dünggür (shaman drum). playing galloping rhythms that evoke the vast south Siberian steppe.

The four members performed using both a note and its overtones, thus producing two or three notes simultaneously. The overtone may have sounded like a flute, whistle, or bird, but it was solely a product of the human voice.

Between songs their spokesperson, Sayan Bapa explained the ancient tradition of throat singing to a very receptive audience and how their singing styles were modelled on the harmonic resonances naturally occurring around valleys or waterfalls, with some vocal styles configured to mimic the sounds of animals, wind, or water.

At times you could have been forgiven to thinking this sounded much like the Aboriginal didgeridoo but you soon realised that this was a sound that developed among the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Asia, people who lived in yurts, rode horses, raised yaks, sheep, and camels, and had a close spiritual relationship with nature.

The band received a standing ovation at the end of the night. They thanked the audience for making them feel so welcome and for their enthusiastic response.

Aine Ni Churrain, a member of Coiste Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair described the performance as amazing. She also thanked concert organiser, Robert Mulhern for bringing Huun Huur Tu to Gaoth Dobhair saying it was a privilege to hear such a unique act all the way from southern Siberia.

She reminded the audience the Amharclann would be hosting many other exciting acts in the weeks and months ahead including Sean Keane on April 9.

Local band Tuath (above) opened the night's proceedings with their unique mixture of Irish traditional music tinged with a hint of progressive rock, another unique performance.