Due to a passport issue, Chirgilchin's travel has been delayed by a few days. Unfortunately, we were their first stop, so they are not going to get to the States in time for these performances. We are looking at rescheduling their performances sometime between May 12 and June 2. Stay tuned for more info!
Tickets are $20, $25 and $30 (including all service charges). Kids 15 and under just $12 (including all service charges). They are also available by phone through Hold My Ticket at 505-886-1251.
The word Chirgilchin has two translations: "dance of the air in the heat of the day" and "miracle." Established in 1996, Chirgilchin is a group of musicians from Tuva, a small Russian province north of Western Mongolia. Their music tells stories of their homeland, its horses and its people. The monotone sustained notes that branch out into overtone singing with slight shifts in pitch give Tuvan music its characteristic buoyant yet meditative drone quality. The songs are sung in minor pentatonic scale, similar to American blues. Throat-singing is an extraordinary vocal form in which one singer produces two or more voices simultaneously, the low sounds in the throat harmonizing with middle and high flute-like overtones, to create richly layered melodies that evoke Central Asian steppes and nomadic life. Atmospheric and mesmeric, this music is almost too difficult to describe in words and must be heard to be believed. The most advanced forms of throat-singing come from Tuva, and the members of Chirgilchin are among the best and most accomplished throat-singers in all of Tuva.
In 2017, Chirgilchin member Igor Koshkendey won the award for Best Urban Song at the Latin Grammy Awards for his work with Puerto Rican rapper Residente.
"Dressed in richly embroidered blue silk robes with gold linings and thick black riding boots, Chirgilchin played to eager crowds last Sunday, blowing away music categories with their clear, brilliant, and unassuming mastery of throat singing. Their youthful friendly demeanor and somewhat shy countenances belied an incredible vocal range. Though worlds apart from Americans, their earthy groove provided a bridge for mutual understanding." (AsianWeek.com)