Payomet Performing Arts Center presents: Sounds of Siberia

“The duo of khomus player Yuliyana Krivoshapkina from the Sakha Republic and Tuvan throat singer Aidyn Byrtaan-ool bridges two mesmerizing centuries-old traditions from remote Eurasian lands where the sounds of nature are reproduced on instruments and by the human voice.” – The Lowell Sun

Yuliyana Krivoshapkina is the foremost master of the khomus, a style of jaw harp from the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). She began studying the khomus from her grandmother when she was just seven years old and today she is a solo performer and teacher of khomus enthusiasts all over the world. Her repertoire is versatile, featuring traditional singing and folk melodies accompanied by the khomus. Yuliyana’s voice and khomus blend to create unique harmony that often evokes feelings of profound wonder. Audiences might hear the rustle of grass in the wind, the cry of a bird startled into the sky, and the quiet incantations of an ancient shamanic ritual.

Yuliyana will be joined by renowned Tuvan throat singer Aidyn Byrtaan-ool. The collaboration between Yuliyana and Aidyn transports listeners to the vast expanse of Siberia. Stretching from Tuva in the south to Sakha in the north, Siberia is a land of mountains, deserts, plains, and tundra. Aidyn’s mastery of the different styles of throat singing takes listeners to the taiga and mountain brooks of Tuva, while Yuliyana brings the sounds of the birds, reindeer, and winds of the endless tundra of Sakha. Around the same time that throat singing emerged out of the Tuvan nomadic lifestyle, the khomus became the backbone of Sakha culture and the tool of powerful shamans. When heard together, these two musical styles are a transformative experience.

Ticket Price: $15-$20 / Members: $13-$18