Tuva/Central Asia

Despite the long reign of Chinese and Russian ideologues, the ancient influence of Persia and Islam persists in Central Asian music and culture. Singers and their songs often draw on Muslim themes and Persian poetry, though community matters and ancient shamanistic healing rituals are also common motifs. In the isolated republic of Tuva, one local music differs from that of all its neighbors: Tuvan Throat Singing, which can sound strange to the Western ear -- singers produce two or three tones simultaneously using the throat, nasal passages and membranes to create throbbing overtones or harmonics. Voice is the primary and precious instrument of Tuvan Throat Singing; when musicians are accompanied, however, their string and percussion instruments often mimic the gaits of the horses they ride, herd and sing about.