Namgar
Encyclopedia
Namgar is a 4-piece music group that performs traditional Buryat and Mongolian music.
Its leader Namgar Lhasaranova comes from the east borderland where three countries, Russia
, Mongolia
, and China
meet. She inherited a rich singing tradition of the Buryat people who reside in Russian regions of Buryatia and Agin Buryat Region. The group necessarily comprises singing of Namgar Lhasaranova and instrumentalists
from Mongolia
. Instruments of the group include morin huur, chanza, traditional percussion, etc.
on yatag.
Their notable distinction from Mongolian groups are dance tunes extinct in Mongolia since 17th century, and the endorsement of Buryat tradition with minimum inclusion of songs from 20th century.
) in July 2001 along with Hedningarna
, Wimme
, Sainkho, Mari Boine
, Chirgilchin
etc. The collaboration with the festival continues until today (2008), while the group became the official representative of the festival in Russia.
There were several appearances of the group at Russia's major TV channels and concert venues. For some years they would also open exhibitions of a leading Buryat sculptor Dashi Namdakov in Moscow.
Namgar's debut CD titled Hatar (Dance), was recorded and issued in October 2003 by Moscow World Music label Sketis Music. It attracted several international reviews, including Dirty Linen that would endorse both the music and the cover design by Dashi Namdakov (selecting just 2 CDs out of half a dozen Sketis CDs directed to them for review).
In 2005 Namgar performed at the Rainforest world music festival
in Malaysia, in 2007 at Shark Taronalari festival in Uzbekistan
, and in 2008 at Alianait Art Festival in Canada
.
In 2006–2007 Namgar were invited to take part in two film soundtracks by Alexei Aigui and his Ensemble 4'33". One of these works was for TV detective serial "Syschik Putilin" (2007) partly staged in Mongolia, and its CD included 3 tracks by the group, issued as Alexei Aigui / The Prince Of The Wind. Ensemble 4'33", Moscow Film Orchestra, 2008.
In late 2000s they evolved their repertoire to include compositions with strongly changing rhythm and key. In late 2008, they completed a new album Nomad that comprizes songs in at least 3 styles: traditional Mongolian/Buryat music, pop music, and ethno-rock.
They opened 2009 with their first visit to the US for NYC's GlobalFest. On January 9, they were on air on WFMU radio in Transpacific Sound Paradise, played at globalFEST at Webster Hall on January 10, 2010, making it to the New York Times, and on January 12, they played in Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. getting back to New York on January 14 to play at the Shrine.
Its leader Namgar Lhasaranova comes from the east borderland where three countries, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
meet. She inherited a rich singing tradition of the Buryat people who reside in Russian regions of Buryatia and Agin Buryat Region. The group necessarily comprises singing of Namgar Lhasaranova and instrumentalists
Music of Mongolia
Music is an integral part of Mongolian culture. Among the unique contributions of Mongolia to the world's musical culture are the long songs, one of the greatest features of the Mongolian music, overtone singing and morin khuur, the horse-headed fiddle...
from Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. Instruments of the group include morin huur, chanza, traditional percussion, etc.
Background
Namgar Lhasaranova performed solo or with modern groups at local and international venues since 1980 in a variety of genres including traditional songs, jazz and pop. It was in 2001 in Moscow that she and Evgeny Zolotaryov created a permanent group inviting Mongolian musicians Kh. Altangerel on morin huur and Jamyangiin UrantögsJamyangiin Urantögs
Jamyangiin Urantögs is a singer and traditional music performer from Mongolia based in Washington, D.C.Born into the family of Mongolian composer and multiinstrumentalist Ts...
on yatag.
Their notable distinction from Mongolian groups are dance tunes extinct in Mongolia since 17th century, and the endorsement of Buryat tradition with minimum inclusion of songs from 20th century.
History
Launching Moscow concerts in March 2001, the group performed at the international festival Riddu Riđđu (NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
) in July 2001 along with Hedningarna
Hedningarna
Hedningarna is a Swedish and, for some years partly Finnish, folk music band that mixes electronics and rock with elements from old Scandinavian folk music. Their music features Yoik or juoiggus, a traditional Sami form of song.-History:...
, Wimme
Wimme Saari
Wimme Saari is one of the best known Sami yoikers from Finland. Wimme Saari combines traditional Sami singing with his own improvisations, usually to a techno-ambient accompaniment by members of Finnish electronic group RinneRadio...
, Sainkho, Mari Boine
Mari Boine
Mari Boine, previously known as Mari Boine Persen, is a Norwegian Sami musician known for having added jazz and rock to the yoiks of her native people...
, Chirgilchin
Chirgilchin
Chirgilchin, meaning "dance of the air in the heat of the day" or "miracle" in Tuvan, is a group of Tuvan musicians performing traditional Tuvan music. It was established in 1996....
etc. The collaboration with the festival continues until today (2008), while the group became the official representative of the festival in Russia.
There were several appearances of the group at Russia's major TV channels and concert venues. For some years they would also open exhibitions of a leading Buryat sculptor Dashi Namdakov in Moscow.
Namgar's debut CD titled Hatar (Dance), was recorded and issued in October 2003 by Moscow World Music label Sketis Music. It attracted several international reviews, including Dirty Linen that would endorse both the music and the cover design by Dashi Namdakov (selecting just 2 CDs out of half a dozen Sketis CDs directed to them for review).
In 2005 Namgar performed at the Rainforest world music festival
Rainforest World Music Festival
The Rainforest World Music Festival is an annual 3-day music festival celebrating the diversity of world music, held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, with daytime music workshops, cultural displays, craft displays, food stalls, and main-stage evening concerts...
in Malaysia, in 2007 at Shark Taronalari festival in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
, and in 2008 at Alianait Art Festival in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In 2006–2007 Namgar were invited to take part in two film soundtracks by Alexei Aigui and his Ensemble 4'33". One of these works was for TV detective serial "Syschik Putilin" (2007) partly staged in Mongolia, and its CD included 3 tracks by the group, issued as Alexei Aigui / The Prince Of The Wind. Ensemble 4'33", Moscow Film Orchestra, 2008.
In late 2000s they evolved their repertoire to include compositions with strongly changing rhythm and key. In late 2008, they completed a new album Nomad that comprizes songs in at least 3 styles: traditional Mongolian/Buryat music, pop music, and ethno-rock.
They opened 2009 with their first visit to the US for NYC's GlobalFest. On January 9, they were on air on WFMU radio in Transpacific Sound Paradise, played at globalFEST at Webster Hall on January 10, 2010, making it to the New York Times, and on January 12, they played in Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. getting back to New York on January 14 to play at the Shrine.
External links
- Namgar on Red Orange Arts Agency
- Official homepage Namgar
- NAMGAR on MySpace Music
- CD review from CDRoots
In scholarly papers
- Newyear, Tristra. Crossing Borders: Buryat Traditional Music in the Post-Soviet Era \\ Harvard Asia Quarterly, Winter 2000, Vol. IV, No.1