Mongolian Throat Singing – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Mongolian throat singing or Tuvan throat singing, has been practiced throughout Mongolia for centuries. The Singer produces a pitch (usually a low one), and then creates another pitch simultaneously over top of the original one. Master Tuvan throat singers are able to create even more than two pitches at once!

The people of Tuva have created many styles of overtone singing, but the three basic styles are khoomei, kargyraa and sygyt. These styles of overtone singing have actually seen quite a rise in modern Mongolia pop culture, and Mongolia’s overall music scene.

While I was in Mongolia I was destined to see this singing for myself. For as long as I can remember I have been captivated by the unique sounds that the singers can create.

My third day in Ulaanbaatar brought me to the Ulaanbaatar performing arts centre. Here I enjoyed a show that displayed many of Mongolia’s different styles of song and dance. At the end of the show one of Mongolia’s most famous overtone singers belt out his many tones that vibrated throughout the halls.

This was by far one of the most amazing Tuvan throat singing I had heard in Mongolia. While in Ulaanbaatar if you are lucky enough to be there while this singer was in town, I highly recommend attending this show so you too can be shocked by how incredible this folk art is.