Tuvan Throat Singers at Lebanon Opera House

Free educational program for all ages. Bring the kids.

“Imagine a subsonic growl, a bullfrog’s croak, some electric barber’s clippers and a high-frequency whistle— all reverberating out of a single larynx at once.” — Washington Post

Lebanon Opera House presents Alash, masters of Tuvan throat singing, in a FREE one-hour educational performance. This all-ages event will take place on Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30 pm, and includes an introduction by Dr. Theodore Levin, Professor of Music at Dartmouth College. Reservations must be made in advance; please visit lebanonoperahouse.org/events/alash/ to save your spot. While not required, LOH is suggesting a donation of $10 to help defray costs.

ALASH are masters of Tuvan throat singing (xöömei), a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. What distinguishes this gifted trio from earlier generations of Tuvan throat singers is the subtle infusion of modern influences into their traditional music. One can find complex harmonies, western instruments, and contemporary song forms in Alash’s music, but its overall sound and spirit remain decidedly Tuvan. (alashensemble.com)

In other words, “they have never sacrificed the integrity of their own heritage in an effort to make their music more hip.”

In addition to their albums and concerts, Alash frequently offers educational programs to students young and older. There are reports of 8 and 9 year-olds who have learned to throat sing. Reviews of Alash’s performances struggle to capture the degree of surprise. A WashPo reviewer reported that after one of their concerts “audience members picked their jaws up off the floor.”

Still can’t imagine what throat singing sounds like? Alash’s music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer. Click below for a preview.

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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.