Pure pursuit of ethnic fusion
- By Lu Na
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, April 23, 2013
|
|
|
Andy Bauer (L) performs with Wu Rigan(C) and Xue Ting (R). |
The fascinating on-stage ensemble, headed by Andy Bauer, a young artist from Colorado, U.S., gave a thrilling concert on Sunday night at the Minzu University of China in Beijing, mixing throat singing and the sounds of various instruments, including Morin Khuur, a traditional Mongolian horse-head stringed instrument, Chola Qowuz, a 12-string guitar and Didjeridu (didgeridoo). The Didjeridu is a wind instrument developed by aboriginal Australians and it is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world.
The combination and the variety of instruments gave the 1,000-strong audience which had gathered on Sunday night at Minzu University of China a real sense of harmony and mystery, almost bringing the sweeping Mongolian grasslands to life right in front of their eyes.
Bauer, who performed alongside his Chinese partners Xue Ting and Wu Rigan, has made a serious study of interethnic folk music and is the founder of Interethnic Arts, a program which works with artists involved with two or more ethnic cultures in order to create musical fusion.
Bauer, as the founder, is an excellent example of this. He can play many musical instruments, including the guitar and piano, but he loves throat singing most, especially Tuvan throat singing, a unique singing style from Tuva, a federal Russian republic. "I have been in love with Tuvan Kargyraa after I heard a concert by Yat-Kha in the United States, a band that combined Tuvan throat singing and rock," said Bauer. "Then I learned the singing from a young Tuvan master of throat singing named Bady-Dorju Ondar. I focus on Kargyraa, a type of throat singing which is known for its deep timbre range."
Bauer describes language as a type of music, and revealed that his interest in other cultures motivated him to learn many different languages, including Russian, Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese and he uses these languages in his song lyrics. "This summer we will go to Tuva again to learn in-depth about their culture and throat singing," said Bauer. "This time we may have four to five people studying there."
Xue also emphasized the group's emphasis on fusion. "If you listen to our music carefully, you will find out there is no individual characteristic in it," he said. "Unlike a lot of band performers who want to become famous through music, we focus on the music itself rather than individual performing. There is no hero behind our music."
Xue is a renowned photographer who developed a passionate interest in throat singing eight years ago, since which time he had practiced the art, collected musical instrument and worked as a photographer. Xue says that his love for throat singing is all-encompassing. "First of all, the singing style place a heavy burden to our throat as well as to our body," he said. "As well as this, we have to practice a lot for our performances and give our audiences a different experience at every show. However, a lot of people don't understand it. When we rehearse, some neighbors simply complain about the noise."
As interethnic artists, they should immerse themselves in two or more ethnic cultures. Such fusion is the process of cultural identity as well as the process of an artist entering a different culture. As artists, they refuse to copy other people's material. Instead, they learn, understand and recreate it to give their audiences a brand new experience.
Bauer has hopes of expanding Interethnic Arts into a large troupe. "Now we have more than 20 artists," he said. "I hope I can build it a large troupe in the future. Besides, we hope we can make an album and record our 'interethnic folk music'."
In keeping with his intercultural interests, Bauer is currently a postgraduate student majoring in anthropology at Minzu University of China and his graduate paper is focusing on research about non-Tuvan throat singers.
Bauer has also applied for United Nations funding to start a throat singing program. He said: "If the program is permitted, I hope it can promote non-commercial cultivation of and cooperation about Tuva Throat Singing in the world, or more precisely, to strengthen interethnic cooperation."
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)