KALDAK-KHAMAR
music - trad arr. A. Kuvezin
lyrics - Salchak Toka
The
name of a mountain pass through Tannu-Ola range at the south
part of Tuva. In 1933-1934 the road from Kyzyl (capital) to
region on Mongolian border was built; and on this pass for one
year people were digging using only simple tools like picks,
spades, hand-trolleys and enthusiasm. Now it is road of state
importance connecting Siberia, Tuva and Mongolia. The lyrics
written by first General Secretary of Communist Party of then-independent
state of "Tannu Touva". Salchak Toka, leader of the Government
and also one of the great writers of classic Tuvan literature
- a Soviet Union State Prizewinner. This song about wish and
striving to dig out Kaldak-Khamar pass, to build a smooth road
and to rush by an iron devil-car like a kite.
KHEMCHIM
music - trad arr. A. Kuvezin
lyrics - trad
It
means "my Khemchik" the name of a river in the western part
of Tuva running to Ulug-Khem Yenisei and the name of two regions
along this river. The lyrics are about beauty and richness of
the nature which gives people the possibility to live, joy and
hope.
DYNGYLDAI
music - A. Laptan
lyrics - A. Laptan
This
song was composed during the time of "developed socialism" in
Tuva when people had a strong faith in a joyous, happy future
and work and these feelings were reflected in their art. Like
many songs from that time it is about pride for the industrious
Tuvan people. It compares the coming future with a sunrise to
which a rider is galloping.
ÖPEI KHOOMEI
music - trad arr. Aldyn-ool Sevek
lyrics - Aldyn-ool Sevek
A
lullaby sung in khoomei style. Interesting that rhythmical and
melodical figures of this lullaby are similar to ritual tunes
of shamans and shepherds when they call to their young sheep
and cows. Maybe because everything came out of one cradle -
Earth & Nature.
KAZHAN TÖREN KARAM BOLUR
music - A. Kuvezin
lyrics - trad
When
was she born? About a girlfriend who has the eyes bright like
an evening star (Venus) and her plaits soft, thick and long
like a cedar tree in the taiga.
KEERGINCHIK
music - trad arr. A. Kuvezin
lyrics - trad
In
the second half of the XIX century in Tuva there was a people's
insurrection against Chinese, Mongolian and Tuvan oppressors
that got the title: "The Revolt of the 60 Fugitives". After
three years of a struggle it was cruelly surpressed and the
participants were punished after agonizing tortures. Then the
leaders were taken to China and killed. This song is a sadness
about those heroes and is dedicated to those events.
CHARASH KARAA
music trad arr. A. Kuvezin
lyrics trad
The
Beauty, wherever she will be - never forget my beauty, my girlfriend.
HÖNDERGEI
music - trad arr. A. Kuvezin
lyrics - trad
The
name of a mountain river and village at its mouth. This place
is very good for raising cattle. The song describes how wonderful
and rich the nature is in this place.
YDYK BUURA
music - trad arr. A. Kuvezin
lyrics - trad
"From
the top of Buura mountain everything is visible, even to the
steppes of Mongolia. It would be good to have a few sheep, and
if there's a bloody brother it will turn out badly for the rich
feudal lord." A rebel song by a Kaigal (means brave boy - Tuva's
version of Robin Hood) on his trusty horse, high on the Holy
Mountain, safe from the guards of the feudal oppressors.
SODOM i GOMORA
music - trad arr. A. Kuvezin
lyrics - trad
From
the Staro Vera (Old Believers) book of spiritual poetry (Stikhi).
In the upper reaches of Kaa-Khem (little Yenisei river), in
a deep taiga there are a few villages where live some Russian
Old Believers who escaped there from the official Orthodox Church
pressure in the last century. Here is their poetic version of
the same story from the Bible (Old Testament, Genesis, Chapter
19).
1997 to 1998 in Tuva Republic, Finland, USA, UK
=====================================================
Martijn Fernig engineered
Ken Sluiter edited
Ian Shaw + Dominic Berthes mixed
Dominic Berthes mastered
Albert Kuvezin arranged songs
Eduard Mezhid translated lyrics
Vasiliy Krivdik + Marek Pytel photographed
Marek Pytel filmed and videoed
George Stone facilitated
Anu Laakkonen + Lu Edmonds managed
Lu Edmonds produced
Special Thanks to
=====================================================
Old generations of Tuvans for beautiful songs and melodies
Families and relatives for waiting (again)
Passport-Visa Service of Tuva "Za Progress", family Iridekov, Ostap + Vanja, Krivdik.
Global Music Centre Helsinki - Jaana-Maria Jukkara, Mikko Saarela,
Kari "problem chok-tir" Hakala.
Yat-Kha is
=====================================================
Albert Kuvezin - yat-kha, guitars, bass, shanzi, khomuz and low kargiraa vocal
Aldyn-ool Sevek - morin-huur, igil and sygyt, khoomei, kargiraa vocal
Zhenya Tkachëv - tüngür, percussion, gongs and stikhi vocal
Special Guests
=====================================================
Steve Goulding - drum-kit
Martyn Barker - kat-drum
Martijn Fernig - little bell
Lu Edmonds (aka Akym) - extra bass, cümbüsh, saz
thanks for support live: Piranha Berlin, Positif Istanbul,
Tempodrom Berlin, Sfinks Belgium
previous
CD "Yenisei-Punk"
