Otherworldly is an apt word to describe Tuvan throat-singing. On Tuesday at the Rotunda, as the three members of Tuva's Alash gave deep voice to the first of a dozen numbers, listeners having their first live encounter with the Central Asian folk genre could be identified by their startled looks. Developed over centuries among the semi-nomadic herdsmen of Tuva, where they could sing to each other over long distances, the eerie vocalizations have long been a national passion in the land bordering southern Siberia.

The group "Khorum-Dag" of Aldyn-Kherel Aldynay’s production house "Toolay", under the aegis of the Year of Khoomei, began its first theatrical tour, with direct support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tuva.

Ask any Tuvan today, what the mysterious expression “Huun-Huurtu” means, and he’ll answer “sun propeller” or “sun”. But 15 years ago, when the ethno-group of this name was being born, such a concept was not known in Tuva at all. Not in normal, vernacular language. The musicians themselves explain it this way: Huun-Huurtu is a natural effect that appears when the sun is shining through trees or clouds. Huun-Huurtu is “prosvet”. (Transl. note: can be translated as enlightenment, culture, education, or simply light shining through. HJ.) And that is very symbolic.

Tapping out a lively beat, the Tuvan drummer set the pace. A classical string quartet joined in. Igils, traditional Tuvan instruments, rounded out the string section. As the Tuvan musicians began to sing, each producing multiple tones, a rich, full sound enveloped the room. A much bigger sound than one would expect from only seven musicians, it was the pièce de résistance of “Unexpected Voices,” a concert featuring the Tuvan ensemble Alash and a classical string quartet at The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) on January 11, 2008.

The tiny republic of Tuva is a giant when it comes to mastery of the human voice. The ancient tradition of throat singing (xoomei in Tuvan) developed among the nomadic herdsmen of Central Asia. Passed down through the generations, but largely unheard by the outside world, xoomei is now the subject of international fascination and has become Tuva's best known export.

The children’s classical dance ensemble ‘Alantos’ (trained by Raisa Stal-Ool) has won first prize at the Gold Cup international championship and festival, which recently took place in Sochi. Over 500 young performers from all over Russia took part in the contest. It was staged in the concert hall of one the country’s best pension houses – Neva International. Besides dance ensembles, vocal and music groups also took part in the championship, and fashion shows were put on by designers.

Alash started their tour with a very special concert on January 11, 2008. Teaming up with a classical string quartet from the Chamber Music Society (CMS) of Lincoln Center, they played music arranged especially for the occasion by Ayana Samiyaevna Mongush, director of the Tuvan National Orchestra. The brilliant blend of igil, kengirge, violin, viola, cello--and of course throat singing--awed the audience. The concert was part of the CMS Student Producers series of Unconventional Concerts produced by and presented for high school students.

Popular performer of the unofficial anthem of the republic, the song "Men tyva men" (I am a Tuvan), teacher and composer, soloist of the Tuvan Orchestra of National Instruments Andrey Mongush at the end of the last year was honored with a government award. He was bestowed the title "People's Khoomeizhi of the Republic of Tuva".

Andrey Mongush has been on the scene for 17 years now.

Besides performing and composing he is a teacher. He prepared and presented live three generations of folkloric associations of secondary school # 5 "Salgal" (Heritage).

A soloist of the Alash ensemble, 23-year-old Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, has been awarded the title People’s Khoomeizhi of Tuva. Sholban Kara-ool, head of the Republic of Tuva, made the announcement on the 15th anniversary of the young throat singer’s professional debut. Bady-Dorzhu Ondar’s career started early. At the age of eight, the young throat singer began to perform with his teacher, the well known khoomeizhi Kongar-ool Ondar. The teacher and student were guests on one of the most highly rated American talk shows, the David Letterman Show. Later, 9-year-old Bady-Dorzhu Ondar performed Tuvan throat singing on another popular talk show, hosted by the comic TV personality Chevy Chase.