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Seeing Ourselves in the Music of Other Cultures | Annie Lynch Stevenson | TEDxSpringfield


I see

I see [Music]

that

that down by the riverside

down by the riverside

down by the riverside I see

I see

I see [Music]

[Applause]

[Applause] thank you imagine if you will being

thank you imagine if you will being

thank you imagine if you will being crammed into a 15-passenger van

crammed into a 15-passenger van

crammed into a 15-passenger van alongside 18 other people with whom you

alongside 18 other people with whom you

alongside 18 other people with whom you share no common language driving through

share no common language driving through

share no common language driving through the night in southern Siberia with not a

the night in southern Siberia with not a

the night in southern Siberia with not a window cracked and from what you can see

window cracked and from what you can see

window cracked and from what you can see in the dark there are no guardrails on

in the dark there are no guardrails on

in the dark there are no guardrails on the winding hills you climb and it’s

the winding hills you climb and it’s

the winding hills you climb and it’s unclear whether the driver is bobbing

unclear whether the driver is bobbing

unclear whether the driver is bobbing his head to the single cassette that

his head to the single cassette that

his head to the single cassette that he’s been playing for the past 10 hours

he’s been playing for the past 10 hours

he’s been playing for the past 10 hours or if he’s falling asleep at the wheel

or if he’s falling asleep at the wheel

or if he’s falling asleep at the wheel how many people here would sign up for

how many people here would sign up for

how many people here would sign up for that road trip I’ve been on this drive

that road trip I’ve been on this drive

that road trip I’ve been on this drive and if given the opportunity again I

and if given the opportunity again I

and if given the opportunity again I would say yes but here’s why because

would say yes but here’s why because

would say yes but here’s why because that van brought me to a place called

that van brought me to a place called

that van brought me to a place called Tuva how many of you have heard of Tuva

Tuva how many of you have heard of Tuva

Tuva how many of you have heard of Tuva okay and how many of you have been to

okay and how many of you have been to

okay and how many of you have been to Tuba so clearly this is not a

Tuba so clearly this is not a

Tuba so clearly this is not a destination for American tourism and

destination for American tourism and

destination for American tourism and it’s certainly the most foreign place

it’s certainly the most foreign place

it’s certainly the most foreign place that I’ve ever traveled to by far I like

that I’ve ever traveled to by far I like

that I’ve ever traveled to by far I like to travel to new places and as a

to travel to new places and as a

to travel to new places and as a musician I love to learn the music of

musician I love to learn the music of

musician I love to learn the music of other cultures and of course I’m not the

other cultures and of course I’m not the

other cultures and of course I’m not the only one so what does one seek to find

only one so what does one seek to find

only one so what does one seek to find by traveling to foreign places and what

by traveling to foreign places and what

by traveling to foreign places and what do we seek to feel by listening to or

do we seek to feel by listening to or

do we seek to feel by listening to or learning the music of other cultures I

learning the music of other cultures I

learning the music of other cultures I believe that a big part of why people do

believe that a big part of why people do

believe that a big part of why people do this is to experience humanity more

this is to experience humanity more

this is to experience humanity more fully to learn what being human means in

fully to learn what being human means in

fully to learn what being human means in its broadest sense outside of our own

its broadest sense outside of our own

its broadest sense outside of our own micro perspective of the human

micro perspective of the human

micro perspective of the human experience music is a mirror that

experience music is a mirror that

experience music is a mirror that reflects the unseeable and otherwise

reflects the unseeable and otherwise

reflects the unseeable and otherwise intangible elements of

intangible elements of

intangible elements of human experience it shows us our truest

human experience it shows us our truest

human experience it shows us our truest intellectual emotional and cultural

intellectual emotional and cultural

intellectual emotional and cultural selves and it provides a lookingglass

selves and it provides a lookingglass

selves and it provides a lookingglass that takes us as close as we could

that takes us as close as we could

that takes us as close as we could possibly get too deeply knowing and

possibly get too deeply knowing and

possibly get too deeply knowing and feeling the cultural intellectual and

feeling the cultural intellectual and

feeling the cultural intellectual and emotional experiences of others no

emotional experiences of others no

emotional experiences of others no matter how foreign I’ve been studying

matter how foreign I’ve been studying

matter how foreign I’ve been studying music since I was about seven years old

music since I was about seven years old

music since I was about seven years old and writing songs since I was 12 I

and writing songs since I was 12 I

and writing songs since I was 12 I graduated from a reputable College of

graduated from a reputable College of

graduated from a reputable College of Music and spent the first 10 years of my

Music and spent the first 10 years of my

Music and spent the first 10 years of my adulthood touring the US and a bit

adulthood touring the US and a bit

adulthood touring the US and a bit beyond performing my songs for audiences

beyond performing my songs for audiences

beyond performing my songs for audiences ranging in size from 3 to 3 thousand

ranging in size from 3 to 3 thousand

ranging in size from 3 to 3 thousand people it’s fair to say that say that I

people it’s fair to say that say that I

people it’s fair to say that say that I spent my entire life thus far exploring

spent my entire life thus far exploring

spent my entire life thus far exploring myself through music and connecting with

myself through music and connecting with

myself through music and connecting with others through songs in 2012 My partner

others through songs in 2012 My partner

others through songs in 2012 My partner and I took an 11 hour flight from New

and I took an 11 hour flight from New

and I took an 11 hour flight from New York City to Moscow we took the metro

York City to Moscow we took the metro

York City to Moscow we took the metro into Red Square and did some sightseeing

into Red Square and did some sightseeing

into Red Square and did some sightseeing we took a little snooze outside of the

we took a little snooze outside of the

we took a little snooze outside of the Kremlin and the Alexander garden we took

Kremlin and the Alexander garden we took

Kremlin and the Alexander garden we took another six-hour flight from there to a

another six-hour flight from there to a

another six-hour flight from there to a small city in Siberia called Krasnoyarsk

small city in Siberia called Krasnoyarsk

small city in Siberia called Krasnoyarsk we tooled around there for a few hours

we tooled around there for a few hours

we tooled around there for a few hours and then we crammed into the after

and then we crammed into the after

and then we crammed into the after mentioned 15 passenger van with 18 other

mentioned 15 passenger van with 18 other

mentioned 15 passenger van with 18 other people and took the 12 hour ride through

people and took the 12 hour ride through

people and took the 12 hour ride through the night into the center of Asia to the

the night into the center of Asia to the

the night into the center of Asia to the city of Cazale Tuva we traveled all this

city of Cazale Tuva we traveled all this

city of Cazale Tuva we traveled all this way to learn some new music and to share

way to learn some new music and to share

way to learn some new music and to share some music of our own when I refer to

some music of our own when I refer to

some music of our own when I refer to Cavill as a city I use that as a

Cavill as a city I use that as a

Cavill as a city I use that as a relative term Tuva is made up of largely

relative term Tuva is made up of largely

relative term Tuva is made up of largely rural and agricultural regions and even

rural and agricultural regions and even

rural and agricultural regions and even some remaining semi-nomadic communities

some remaining semi-nomadic communities

some remaining semi-nomadic communities but Cazale has a museum and a large

but Cazale has a museum and a large

but Cazale has a museum and a large performance hall historic landmarks and

performance hall historic landmarks and

performance hall historic landmarks and the cultural center that’s home to the

the cultural center that’s home to the

the cultural center that’s home to the to the National Orchestra and its

to the National Orchestra and its

to the National Orchestra and its various branch and Samba ‘ls and that’s

various branch and Samba ‘ls and that’s

various branch and Samba ‘ls and that’s who we were invited to come and

who we were invited to come and

who we were invited to come and collaborate with

Tuva is known for its ancient tradition

Tuva is known for its ancient tradition of throat singing also known into the as

of throat singing also known into the as

of throat singing also known into the as home-a home-a is a technique of singing

home-a home-a is a technique of singing

home-a home-a is a technique of singing that produces a simultaneous low drone

that produces a simultaneous low drone

that produces a simultaneous low drone sound with anywhere from 1 to 4 high

sound with anywhere from 1 to 4 high

sound with anywhere from 1 to 4 high melodic and harmonic overtones it’s it

melodic and harmonic overtones it’s it

melodic and harmonic overtones it’s it is – it is done by women but it’s more

is – it is done by women but it’s more

is – it is done by women but it’s more typically done by men and I’ll play you

typically done by men and I’ll play you

typically done by men and I’ll play you a sample of what it sounds like keep in

a sample of what it sounds like keep in

a sample of what it sounds like keep in mind that this is one man singing and so

mind that this is one man singing and so

mind that this is one man singing and so all you’re hearing here is a single

all you’re hearing here is a single

all you’re hearing here is a single human voice at one time and this is the

human voice at one time and this is the

human voice at one time and this is the late congra under

late congra under

late congra under [Music]

you

you you

go child of a plan yeah I am

go child of a plan yeah I am [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you

you

you [Music]

[Music]

[Music] ah

[Music]

[Music] there are various styles and approaches

there are various styles and approaches

there are various styles and approaches to throat singing and in traditional

to throat singing and in traditional

to throat singing and in traditional tube in music there are songs or

tube in music there are songs or

tube in music there are songs or portions of songs that include

portions of songs that include

portions of songs that include conventional singing as well there are

conventional singing as well there are

conventional singing as well there are also a series of traditional bowed and

also a series of traditional bowed and

also a series of traditional bowed and strums string instruments and percussion

strums string instruments and percussion

strums string instruments and percussion instruments that have existed in this

instruments that have existed in this

instruments that have existed in this culture for many hundreds if not

culture for many hundreds if not

culture for many hundreds if not thousands of years and are still

thousands of years and are still

thousands of years and are still handmade by just a handful of people

handmade by just a handful of people

handmade by just a handful of people into them here’s a picture of two vassal

into them here’s a picture of two vassal

into them here’s a picture of two vassal ashen Samba with some traditional Tuvan

ashen Samba with some traditional Tuvan

ashen Samba with some traditional Tuvan instruments the traditional songs of

instruments the traditional songs of

instruments the traditional songs of Tuva and the techniques of the singing

Tuva and the techniques of the singing

Tuva and the techniques of the singing and instrument playing are a reflection

and instrument playing are a reflection

and instrument playing are a reflection of a deep emotional and spiritual

of a deep emotional and spiritual

of a deep emotional and spiritual connection to the natural world and when

connection to the natural world and when

connection to the natural world and when you hear the sounds at Tuvan musicians

you hear the sounds at Tuvan musicians

you hear the sounds at Tuvan musicians create you get this concurrent sense of

create you get this concurrent sense of

create you get this concurrent sense of groundedness and other worldliness the

groundedness and other worldliness the

groundedness and other worldliness the music of Tuva is the sound of a deep and

music of Tuva is the sound of a deep and

music of Tuva is the sound of a deep and ancient tradition that’s kept alive and

ancient tradition that’s kept alive and

ancient tradition that’s kept alive and celebrated by its people all of that

celebrated by its people all of that

celebrated by its people all of that being said even with an appreciation for

being said even with an appreciation for

being said even with an appreciation for world music

world music

world music Tuva was not on my radar as a place that

Tuva was not on my radar as a place that

Tuva was not on my radar as a place that I expected to travel to in my lifetime

I expected to travel to in my lifetime

I expected to travel to in my lifetime so when my partner and I received an

so when my partner and I received an

so when my partner and I received an invitation from our friends in the alash

invitation from our friends in the alash

invitation from our friends in the alash in Samba to participate in a cultural

in Samba to participate in a cultural

in Samba to participate in a cultural exchange in Cazale we were thrilled by

exchange in Cazale we were thrilled by

exchange in Cazale we were thrilled by the prospect of it but we were cautious

the prospect of it but we were cautious

the prospect of it but we were cautious in our optimism that it would all come

in our optimism that it would all come

in our optimism that it would all come together we knew it would be a difficult

together we knew it would be a difficult

together we knew it would be a difficult place to get to nevertheless our process

place to get to nevertheless our process

place to get to nevertheless our process of getting the thumbs-up involved

of getting the thumbs-up involved

of getting the thumbs-up involved sending off our documents followed by a

sending off our documents followed by a

sending off our documents followed by a long and quiet waiting period followed

long and quiet waiting period followed

long and quiet waiting period followed by we’ll see you in a few days and we

by we’ll see you in a few days and we

by we’ll see you in a few days and we booked our flights and in less than a

booked our flights and in less than a

booked our flights and in less than a week we were there for two weeks we

week we were there for two weeks we

week we were there for two weeks we stayed in and around Cazale

stayed in and around Cazale

stayed in and around Cazale collaborating with members of the Tuvan

collaborating with members of the Tuvan

collaborating with members of the Tuvan National Orchestra and some of their

National Orchestra and some of their

National Orchestra and some of their smaller ensembles and I spent most of my

smaller ensembles and I spent most of my

smaller ensembles and I spent most of my time there with a group of five

time there with a group of five

time there with a group of five exceptional women who make up the

exceptional women who make up the

exceptional women who make up the ensemble of bullsááá and these ladies

ensemble of bullsááá and these ladies

ensemble of bullsááá and these ladies are among the most humble focused and

are among the most humble focused and

are among the most humble focused and talented musicians that I

talented musicians that I

talented musicians that I ever met and they taught me a wordy

ever met and they taught me a wordy

ever met and they taught me a wordy traditional Tuvan song which I was to

traditional Tuvan song which I was to

traditional Tuvan song which I was to memorize with decent articulation and I

memorize with decent articulation and I

memorize with decent articulation and I taught them the song that you heard me

taught them the song that you heard me

taught them the song that you heard me start out with today in the water which

start out with today in the water which

start out with today in the water which I wrote a few years prior to this trip

I wrote a few years prior to this trip

I wrote a few years prior to this trip never imagining where it would end up we

never imagining where it would end up we

never imagining where it would end up we didn’t share a common language every now

didn’t share a common language every now

didn’t share a common language every now and then there would be someone around

and then there would be someone around

and then there would be someone around to translate but for all intents and

to translate but for all intents and

to translate but for all intents and purposes we communicated simply with our

purposes we communicated simply with our

purposes we communicated simply with our music we effectively taught each other

music we effectively taught each other

music we effectively taught each other and learn songs that were otherwise very

and learn songs that were otherwise very

and learn songs that were otherwise very foreign in all respects with no language

foreign in all respects with no language

foreign in all respects with no language other than the music itself and at the

other than the music itself and at the

other than the music itself and at the end of our time there we perform these

end of our time there we perform these

end of our time there we perform these songs on the national stage for a large

songs on the national stage for a large

songs on the national stage for a large and enthusiastic audience of Tuvan

and enthusiastic audience of Tuvan

and enthusiastic audience of Tuvan people musicians and dignitaries and

people musicians and dignitaries and

people musicians and dignitaries and after the performance a goat was

after the performance a goat was

after the performance a goat was slaughtered in our honor and we were

slaughtered in our honor and we were

slaughtered in our honor and we were presented with the gift of a celebratory

presented with the gift of a celebratory

presented with the gift of a celebratory plate of innards ligaments and tendons

plate of innards ligaments and tendons

plate of innards ligaments and tendons alongside a large carafe a fermented

alongside a large carafe a fermented

alongside a large carafe a fermented horse milk which was actually pretty

horse milk which was actually pretty

horse milk which was actually pretty good I spent two weeks straight

good I spent two weeks straight

good I spent two weeks straight with the women of bullsááá and I felt

with the women of bullsááá and I felt

with the women of bullsááá and I felt a sisterhood with them unlike some

a sisterhood with them unlike some

a sisterhood with them unlike some friendships I’ve had for many years I

friendships I’ve had for many years I

friendships I’ve had for many years I knew very little about them and they

knew very little about them and they

knew very little about them and they knew just as much about me and with

knew just as much about me and with

knew just as much about me and with nothing to clutter our perceptions of

nothing to clutter our perceptions of

nothing to clutter our perceptions of one another as people all I saw in them

one another as people all I saw in them

one another as people all I saw in them was a fierce love and passion for music

was a fierce love and passion for music

was a fierce love and passion for music and for the traditions that they belong

and for the traditions that they belong

and for the traditions that they belong to as well as the curiosity and

to as well as the curiosity and

to as well as the curiosity and excitement that they felt from my music

excitement that they felt from my music

excitement that they felt from my music in my traditions and in me I believe

in my traditions and in me I believe

in my traditions and in me I believe they felt they saw that same curiosity

they felt they saw that same curiosity

they felt they saw that same curiosity in that same passion music is a mirror

in that same passion music is a mirror

in that same passion music is a mirror that reflects the unseeable and

that reflects the unseeable and

that reflects the unseeable and otherwise intangible elements of the

otherwise intangible elements of the

otherwise intangible elements of the human experience showing us our truest

human experience showing us our truest

human experience showing us our truest selves and it provides a lookingglass

selves and it provides a lookingglass

selves and it provides a lookingglass that takes us

that takes us

that takes us as close as we could possibly get too

as close as we could possibly get too

as close as we could possibly get too deeply knowing and feeling the

deeply knowing and feeling the

deeply knowing and feeling the experiences of others no matter how

experiences of others no matter how

experiences of others no matter how foreign and moreover through hearing and

foreign and moreover through hearing and

foreign and moreover through hearing and learning the traditional music of

learning the traditional music of

learning the traditional music of another culture we can know ourselves

another culture we can know ourselves

another culture we can know ourselves more deeply for how different we are not

more deeply for how different we are not

more deeply for how different we are not and for how human we are you don’t have

and for how human we are you don’t have

and for how human we are you don’t have to be a musician to participate in this

to be a musician to participate in this

to be a musician to participate in this kind of cultural exchange and you don’t

kind of cultural exchange and you don’t

kind of cultural exchange and you don’t have to travel all the way to Siberia to

have to travel all the way to Siberia to

have to travel all the way to Siberia to experience something I opening our

experience something I opening our

experience something I opening our country’s most celebrated cities are

country’s most celebrated cities are

country’s most celebrated cities are what they are because of their

what they are because of their

what they are because of their international communities and immigrant

international communities and immigrant

international communities and immigrant populations engage with work with share

populations engage with work with share

populations engage with work with share a meal with go out dancing with people

a meal with go out dancing with people

a meal with go out dancing with people who have a different first language than

who have a different first language than

who have a different first language than you who practice a different religion

you who practice a different religion

you who practice a different religion than you who belong to traditions that

than you who belong to traditions that

than you who belong to traditions that you’re unfamiliar with and you will

you’re unfamiliar with and you will

you’re unfamiliar with and you will deeply enrich your one precious

deeply enrich your one precious

deeply enrich your one precious experience on this earth as a human

experience on this earth as a human

experience on this earth as a human being I’ll close with a verse from the

being I’ll close with a verse from the

being I’ll close with a verse from the song that the Tuvan woman’s in sambal

song that the Tuvan woman’s in sambal

song that the Tuvan woman’s in sambal bullsááá

bullsááá

bullsááá taught me and the meaning of this song

taught me and the meaning of this song

taught me and the meaning of this song translates to together we are stronger

vigil and be solemn be so yep Asian

vigil and be solemn be so yep Asian Jewish and Cilic be so yeh beijing GGO

Jewish and Cilic be so yeh beijing GGO

Jewish and Cilic be so yeh beijing GGO de contrato yep ich liebe es k KY and

de contrato yep ich liebe es k KY and

de contrato yep ich liebe es k KY and shithead

shithead

shithead Oh a fish Lubezki Kai and shedded oye el

Oh a fish Lubezki Kai and shedded oye el

Oh a fish Lubezki Kai and shedded oye el de la noche de lambie’s

”

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