What? > CD s > "Aldyn Dashka"
Music and Throat-Singing from the Altai-Sayani Mountains of Tuva
In ancient times our people had a tradition: when you receive dear guests you have to present a golden cup (Aldyn Dashka) with "araka" — a wine made from fermented milk. Let this our new album be like a similar cup filled by songs of our Motherland which we present to You.
Albert Kuvezin and "YAT-KHA"
OY ADYM (my Grey Horse)- trad. arr. A. Kuvezin
A horse is rushing along the steppe with boldness boy on its back
This is my grey trotter, this is my brother Mergen
The Grey is galloping like an arrow across long fields with a small girl on its back
This is my famous trotter, this is my smart daughter
…in Central Asia the horse was the best friend and main means of transportation for the nomads. Tuvans usually had to give a name to a horse using it's colour. At the beginning is also a "turgen chuga" (fast talk) which is a game by words and rhythm, impossible to translate even approx. In the past it was popular like a competition during the People’s Holidays. The winner is who can talk as much as possible in one breath.
TOZHU KYZY (Tozhu Girl)- trad. arr. Yat-Kha
The brave daughter of a reindeer herder
will ride by reindeer to Tozhu
The poor cowboy of Khemchik
Will remain on cowback.
…in Tozhu region in the Northeast of TUVA, where it is lakes and mountain tundra, most people are reindeer herders and people use riding by reindeer like a horse, on the back of it. The "Khemchik" people in the west of TUVA breed cattle, yaks, sheep and horses but they cannot ride the reindeers which can go through the snow much better with their wide feet.
CHORUMAL BODUM (I am a Traveler)- trad. arr. A. Kuvezin
In the middle of a green steppe a green pine tree sways
A poor traveller, I refreshed myself in it's shadow.
In the middle of a white steppe that lonely pine tree is shining
and now when I will come again I would like to ask about it's health
…from ancient times Tuvans have believed in spirits of nature and have been thinking that everything in nature is alive and spirits live in everywhere. The lonely trees were special places where the spirits liked to live. People respected such places as if they were sacred and brought gifts to the spirits living in those trees. In this song the poor lonely traveler meets in the steppe such lonely pine tree and takes shelter from a storm
KOZHAMYK (ditty)- trad. arr. Yat-Kha
If you cannot give us a treat
then console us by your radiant smile
And combing back your black curls
Sing us a song about some brave funny boys
…in Tuvan traditional music lyrics are not attached to one melody. In different regions people sing different lyrics on the same melody. Also the singers sometimes compose the words spontaneously like an improvisation. "Kozhamyk" means a "ditty". Usually it is in the rhythm of 8 equal musical times (bars). The lyrics are most with humour.
CHEDI TEI (Seven Hills)- trad. arr. Yat-Kha
From the Chedi Tei all the steppe is visible
As if on the palm of your hand
And hundreds of yurts snow-white in the distance.
You can hear the song of a shepherd boy
Chedi Tei – Seven Hills – like brothers
They stand in line so quiet and calm
as if they listen to the shepherd boy’s song
…in the Southeastern Tuva there is a place called "Chedi Tei" that means "Seven Hills". It is situated on the border with Mongolia. The landscape around this place is so amazing that this song was born in the soul of people who live there.
TYVA KYZTAR (Tuvan Girls)- music A. Kuvezin,
- lyrics Kombu Bizhek
- arr. A. Kuvezin
How beautiful modern Tuvan girls are, look at them…
They are like silver-birch trees in the glade
Flowing plaits stream like rivers or waving millet in the fields
Ah, to touch and hold their lovely thin fingers.
Black-black eyebrows like a swallow’s wing
Their sparkling eyes like stars in the sky
Shapely legs like arrows straining
And flowing motions like a fish in water…
Their wit and knowledge are acclaimed by everyone,
The girls are smart, forewomen "on both hands".
I praise the land, the life that will be rich.
Pray God give them all the best in the world.
…about beauty and intellect of Tuvan girls, nothing different than in other cultures and nations.
TAKH-PAKH CHASKHY TAN (spring breeze)- music A. Kuvezin,
- lyrics Tükpeyev
- arr. Yat-Kha
Where have you been, spring breeze?
Where did you come from?
Whose soul did you bring and strike a young heart?
On your colourful road, spring breeze, you brought sunny flowers and merry songs.
…in Khakassian music "Takh Pakh" means "Verse". Khakassia is the ancient country situated just to the North of Tuva. Khakassians are relatives to Tuvans; they are from the same language family and have the similar history and traditions. Some Tuvan and Khakass tribes are from the same root. My mother is Khakass.
BAI-LA MONGUN (Rich Silver Mountain)- trad. arr. A. Sevek.
O my sacred Bai-Mongun,
Not for nothing you got the name "Rich".
The people living on your steppe are all similar.
You look severe but you are so rich that
People living here for hundreds of years
All extol and sing your praises
…Mongun Taiga is the highest place in Tuva (3976m) in the Southwest in the highest mountain chain in all Siberia – the Altai – which are silver-topped all year round. Also it is the coldest and windiest and the best pasture for cows, yaks and sheep.
OI MOROZ (O Frost)- trad. arr. Yat-Kha
Frost don’t freeze me, don’t freeze me or my horse.
My white-maned horse, I have a wife, a jealous wife.
I have a wife, a beauty, waits for me at home, waits so sad.
I come home at the break of day, hug my wife by the horse’s trough.
Frost don’t freeze me, don’t freeze me or my horse…
…old Russian trad song. Probably it comes from the "yamchiki"- the special postal couriers in Old Russia. This word and also this service was adopted from the TATAR-MONGOLS. In Tuvan language "Yamazychi"- means workers of official structure or Ministry. Of course, it is not a drinker's song but it is true that Russians like to drink and then to sing, also this song.
SAMBAZHYKTYN–YRY (Song of Sambazhyk)- trad. arr. Yat-Kha
You are visible even from a distance
Holy red mountain Kyzyl Taiga
A peasant lives at your foot, please protect him from oppression of enemies
My holy Kyzyl Taiga I worship and beg you,
You can see everything all around, please guard
The peace of a poor peasant
…Sambazhyk was a leader of people insurrection against feudal aristocrats oppression in the last century in TUVA. Here he prays for help from the spirits of the mountain.
KHARY KYIGY/ (The Call)- music A. Kuvezin,
- lyrics Eduard Mizhit
- arr. A. Kuvezin
My native land…
The Kogei and Tannu-Ul, the Kogmen (Western Sayan) and Altai mountains
Rock the land between to sleep in the palms of their hands.
I came back from foreign parts and stood on a high cliff-top,
And talked with you, peering into my soul…
Stormy Khemchik and long Tes-Khem and Ene-Sai (Yenisei) rivers,
With a noble destiny you heard my moods, joined me with your churning voices.
My hidden thoughts in my soul’s nest took off, spread free their wings at last.
…Tchaurkhan "Subedei" Bagatur is a historical figure, a comrade-in-arms of Genghis-Khan, who came into History as a commander who never lost a battle. He was from one of the Tuvan tribes and on the surface seems to have been in service at Genghis Khan. But there was not a simple relationship between Genghis Khan and Subedei and about that our young Tuvan poet Eduard Mizhit wrote the long poem "SUBEDEI".
ALDYN DASHKA (The Golden Cup)- trad. arr. Yat-Kha
Our bay horse by its tether
Admire – how beautiful it is
Our Golden Cup in the place of honour
It is full.
Be glad! Today is a holiday –
Guests relatives – enjoy!
Our Golden Cup is the symbol of
Happiness and Peace.
…in Soviet Union there was time of Big Anti-Alcohol Company when there was propaganda of Sober Style of living and a limitation on production and selling of alcohol (a little similar to USA in Depression.) It got to a hypertrophical form, a farce. And maybe this song was not welcome because it was saying about full cup of "araka"- milky vodka, and sings about a feast, old customs and merriment.
Recorded in 1998 and 1999
Engineered by:
Martijn FERNIG at GMC, Helsinki
Zhenya Tkachov in Tuva and Moscow
Ken SLUITER at Kingsize, Chicago
Ian SHAW at Shaw Sound, London
Dale MORNINGSTAR at The Gas Station, Toronto
Balanced by Ian SHAW at Wolf Studios, Brixton
Mixed and mastered by Dominic BRETHES at Wolf Studios, Brixton
Assistant to Mr. Brethes, Alex BALZAMA
Executive Producer – Paddy MOLONEY
A&R by Ian MENZIES
Produced by Lu EDMONDS
Photographs – Marek PYTEL and V. KRIVDIK
Video Materials – Marek PYTEL
Artwork – Jochen KIRCH @ www.perpperoni.de
Sleeve-notes – Albert KUVEZIN
Lyrical translations – Aldyn-ool SEVEK, Ksenia KANDYKOVA, Budachi KUVEZIN, Eduard MIZHIT
YAT-KHA are managed by Lu EdmondsThanks to:
Roger, Diana, Ben and George in London; Artemy Troitsky, Leonid Zakharov, Sergei Dyudyukin and Natasha Timofeieva in Moscow; Don Kerr, Dale Morningstar, Ian Menzies, Nicole Jackson, Guadalupe Jolicoeur, Sam Feldman, Steve Macklam and everyone at SLFA in Canada; Rob Challice, Helen Neale at The Concert Clinic in London; Paul Kahn, Ben Albert and Chhaya Kapadia at Concerted Efforts in Boston; Piranha GmbH in Berlin; Global Music Centre in Helsinki; Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains; BMG Classics Worldwide; Katerina Pavlakis in London; our families and relatives in Tuva; our friends in the World.Yat-Kha from Tuva:
Albert KUVEZIN – voice, guitar, yat-kha
Aldyn-ool SEVEK – voice, igil, morinhuur
Alexei SAAIA – morinhuur, bass, bvoice
Zhenya TKACHOV – kengyrgy, percussion, voice
Mikhail "Mahmoud" SKRIPALTSCHCHIKOV – bass
Sailyk OMMUN – yat-kha, voice
Radik TIULIUSH – vox, igil
Aias-ool DANZYRYN – voice, shanziGuests from London:
Martyn BARKER – snare-drum on "Kyigy"
Steve GOULDING – drum-kit on "Oy Adym"