
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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