Sat Nov 15 2025
Doors 8:00 PM Show 8:30 PM
Alash Ensemble Tuvan Throat Singers
The return of the iconic Tuvan Throat Singers from Central Asia to Unitarian Church.
605 Morewood Ave Shadyside
ALASH ensemble is a trio of master throat singers (xöömeizhi) from Tuva, a tiny republic in the heart of Inner Asia. The ancient art of throat singing (xöömei) developed among the nomadic herdsmen of this region. Alash remains grounded in this tradition while expanding its musical vocabulary with new ideas from the West. The ensemble is named for the Alash River, which runs through the northwestern region of Tuva.
The musicians are inspired by the music of their grandparents, great-grandparents, and the great musicians of Tuva and Central Asia. At the same time, they are influenced by such western artists as Sun Ra and Jimi Hendrix. Yet the Alash musicians never sacrifice the integrity of their heritage in an effort to make their music more hip for an American audience. Rather, they look for contemporary ideas that mesh well with the sound and feel of traditional Tuvan music.
Alash's inaugural U.S. tour was sponsored in 2006 by the Open World Leadership program of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Washington Post described their music as “utterly stunning,” quipping that after the performance “audience members picked their jaws up off the floor.” Since then, Alash has returned to the U.S. every year, playing to enthusiastic audiences and presenting workshops to students of all ages. They are now in high demand internationally, performing in concert halls and festivals in Europe and Asia as well as North and South America.
$25 advance, $30 at the door, all ages.