Kongar-ol Ondar the Tuvan Singer

By Ali S. in Music, Video Clips on Nov 10, 2008 at 8:08 pm


[YouTube - Link]

Here is Ondar performing on the David Letterman show back in 1999.


[YouTube - Link]

And here is something a little more up to date!

Overtone singing (also known as Throat singing) is a fascinating method of singing where the singer is able to manipulate the harmonic resonance created from the air traveling from the lungs past the vocal cords to produce a melody. Talented overtone singers have the ability to produce from two to four different notes at the same time!

Kongar-ol Ondar, is one such person who can do this and has garnered much international attention and fans. Hailing from Tuva (a small protectorate of Russia) Kongar-ol sings a brand of overtone singing that is aptly known as Tuvan.

A fascinating fact arose when researching about this topic in that overtone singing seems to be known and practiced by many cultures around the World for centuries! For example one such people are the Inuit of Canada who have a style called Katajjaq which is facing a resurgence in popularity.

Kongar-ol Ondar’s Official Website – Link


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  1. seekshelter
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    he’s got different colored glasses for every day of the week…im jealous

  2. RSMilward
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    I had the awesome opportunity to see the traditional Tuvan group Huun-Huur-Tu (http://www.huunhuurtu.com/) a couple of years ago (in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana U., no less!), and it was completely mesmerizing to hear this stuff live. Got my copy of “60 Horses in My Herd” autographed too!

  3. Scott-O
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    That is pretty cool! I never knew Mongolian rap existed!

  4. SenorMysterioso
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    He pretty much rocks.

  5. earbox
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    The video’s no more recent than the Letterman appearance–both are from 1999.

  6. Johnny Cat
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    That’s awesome! This style of rap should catch on. Freestylin about his fly wardrobe, the killa graffiti in his hood, and the sweet, sweet locomotive that drives the tribes wild.

    Also: Jews harp(!) goes great with his talent.

  7. Rocky Rook
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    Does he wear Depends when he sings? I’d have to if I were to make sounds like that.

  8. Ali S.
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 10:10 pm

    @ earbox

    I think the video was made in October of this year but the song itself is from his 1999 CD.

  9. seekshelter
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    i just remembered a blog i wrote a few months back… i was wondering about Metal bands in Arab countries… surprisingly, they do exist.

  10. CB
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    If you haven’t seen it, rent Genghis Blues.

  11. Johnny Cat
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    @seekshelter
    Read Lords of Chaos for some freaky metal Mayhem in Scandanavia.

  12. MightyCow
    Nov 10th, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    I have a feeling that guy is the Flava’ Flave of Tuva.

  13. seekshelter
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 1:06 am

    yeah, ive seen the documentary… everyone kinda expects metal to come out of scandanavia… but how many pakistani metal bands can you name???

  14. Christophe
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 1:46 am

    Wow, now I know what the “noise” is in the 1990 ‘Chill Out’ album from the KLF.
    Pretty cool!

  15. Anne
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 1:48 am

    I love this stuff! If you like Kongar-ol Ondar, be sure to check out Bugotak!

    http://www.last.fm/music/Bugotak

    Cheers!

    p.s. Tuvan throat singing shouldn’t even be in the same thread as Scandinavian metal…

    Just sayin’!

  16. DOJ
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 2:12 am

    ‘Back Tuva Future’
    most excellent

  17. matt
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 10:38 am

    the first recording on which i ever heard this type of singing was on an album by Kronos Quartet. thanks for posting about something i’ve wanted to know more about for a long time.

  18. Xinavera
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 12:04 pm

    Fantastic. After a lot of practice, I can do two notes at once, but Ondar is astonishing. I’d never seen video of him before, just the albums.

  19. kacey3
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    Seconded for Ghengis Blues, its an awesome movie and Ondar is a wonderful and funny little man!

  20. peach
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    Cool Shades! Nice Bling! He’s getting Jiggy wit it! Gonna Be a Rock Star Baby! Shiz to the max! Tuva Rap!

  21. Diogenes
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    Sounds a like the Joik singing of the Saami people

  22. xadrian
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    One man’s Tuvan throat singing is another’s Chinese Punk gone Traditional Mongolian.

    Hanggai

  23. Noelegy
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    Sounds like a song from the “Gangs of New York” soundtrack called “Sshhu” by Durgen Chugaa. I think I spelled that right. Anyway, the same kind of guttural singing. Very cool.

  24. MENLOHEAVYWEIGHT
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    cool, strange, must have spent a long time sitting around with nothing to do.

  25. stormie24
    Nov 11th, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    hehehe, I think it’s a bonus that he looks so happy while he throat sings, plus he has the cutest face EVER! Watch out American Idol!

  26. Vanessa
    Nov 15th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    check out the movie “Genghis blues” if you’re interested in tuvan throat singing!


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