We are extremely happy to announce the opening of a khöömii course at the Conservatory of Aubagne with the International Institute of World Music! For the first time, khöömii is integrated into a Western higher education curriculum. This event marks a major milestone in the history of khöömii and its spread around the world.
Dr. Johanni Curtet, ethnomusicologist, European specialist in Mongolian khöömii will provide 100 hours of teaching per year over a four-year diploma cycle and will regularly invite bearers of this Mongolian and Tuva tradition to stay as close as possible to their practice. Welcome to the first 6 students who embark on this great adventure!
As a reminder, the Mongolian traditional art of khöömii has been inscribed since 2010 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, maintained by UNESCO. This inscription was made possible thanks to the involvement of Johanni Curtet and his partner Nomindari Shagdarsuren, the main elaborators of the khöömii nomination.
To celebrate this event together, Jean-François Castell, director of the film Masters of Overtone Singing (2010), gives you free and open access to his latest film Jouney Into Diphonia (2018)! This documentary retraces the adventures of the double-disc and tour An Anthology of Mongolian Khöömii – a transmission tool, a reference document giving a broad overview on this vocal technique.
In exchange for your viewing request by email or message on our facebook page or that of the film, we will send you a private link. As this film has not yet been released on a large scale, please support independent artistic creation and strengthen its visibility on the Internet by reacting virtually with likes, comments and shares…
Thank you very much for your curiosity and openness – qualities that must continue to be nurtured, especially at this time of the health crisis!
Synopsis
Since 2010, the Mongolian Traditional Art of Khöömii (throat singing) has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and the research of Johanni Curtet and his spouse, Nomindari Shagdarsüren, as well as the recordings published by their association, Routes Nomades, have contributed to its nomination dossier.
Following this, Johanni and Nomindari have spent six years preparing a double-disc, An Anthology of Mongolian Khöömii, to become a key work of reference on khöömii.
In 2016, in conjunction with the release of the anthology, they organized a unique tour with 12 khöömii performers and musicians. Male and female masters, young and old, with diverse backgrounds and from different provinces of Mongolia spent two months together on the most beautiful world music stages in France and Switzerland. Based on the voluntary participation of these khöömii representatives, Johanni used their exclusive presence to conduct a research with C.N.R.S., Gipsa-lab and C.H.U. of Grenoble. The first-ever experience…
Journey In Diphonia traces these intertwined stories: the foundations of an ethnomusicological, ethical and fair approach; the history of the tour from the inside; the scientific investigations; the mystery of khöömii, its deep relation to nature and its transmission; the restitution of the anthology in Mongolia during the summer of 2017 to the khöömii performers and to the families of deceased musicians present on the recordings; and the personal adventure of Johanni and Nomindari with the incredible individuals who enliven and advance the art of khöömii today.
This film is dedicated to Papizan Badar, a Tuvan khöömii master from Mongolia, who journeyed for the first time to perform in the West, achieving one of his life dreams.
