Various Artists / Tengir-Too: Mountain Music Of Kyrgyzstan
Album: Tengir-Too: Mountain Music Of Kyrgyzstan   Collection:World
Artist:Various Artists   Added:Mar 2007
Label:Smithsonian/Folkways  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2007-04-01 Pull Date: 2007-06-03 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: May 13 Apr 29 Apr 22
Airplays: 1 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. May 30, 2014: Aporeia afterthought
Jangylyk (Novelty)
4. Apr 27, 2007: No Cover, No Minimum
Jangylyk (Novelty)
2. May 08, 2010: Music Casserole
Sagynam (I Miss You)
5. Apr 15, 2007: radio experiment #10
Jol Jurush (On The Road)
3. May 10, 2007: Cognitive Overload
Jangylyk (Novelty)

Album Review
Sadie O.
Reviewed 2007-04-02
Tengir Too – Mountain Music of Kyrgyzstan
Reviewed by Sadie O., 3/21/07
Indigenous music of the Central Asian mountains, solo and ensemble performers on strummed and bowed stringed instruments, various flutes and derivatives, male and female vocals. This project is an effort to capture the best of the native music, so it’s very pure and roots and folkloric stuff – but could go well with more experimental music as well. Mostly fairly subdued stuff that requires some listening, but often lots of complexities.
All in Kyrgyztani – no FCCs (lyrics are translated in the MASSIVE liner notes.)
I enjoyed 1 and 5 most. It’s all interesting, but I need more of a jolt…
1. ***jew’s harp trio – interplaying overtones, not unlike Tuvan throat singing. Would fit in well with experimental/electronic, and is quite lovely.
2. **fast, dance-like interplay of bowed instruments and flutes. The liner notes are right – it sounds a lot like an Irish jig!
3. *downtempo, downbeat solo strummed instrument and male vocal, tale of lost love. Sad and pretty.
4. **slow, subdued martial beat and flutes, part of an epic drama that has been oral tradition in the area for centuries. Rather harsh spoken male vocals after first 3 minutes or so of instrumental.
5. ***solo jew’s harp – lots of cool overtones. Makes an amazing short interlude.
6. *solo “komuz” – strummed instrument. Fast piece, showcasing the possibilities of the tiny instrument.
7. **pretty flutes, complete with dancing bunnies (I swear), powerful female vocals.
8. *very downbeat and subdued solo komuz, meditative (and in honor of Attila the Hun…)
9. *starts with extremely low flute noises, very gradually building. About halfway through are male and female vocals in harmony, no words. Very tragic mini-epic.
10. *ocarina solo, wistful, pretty.
11. **solo strummed instrument, male vocals, some falsetto. Apparently a happy spiritual song, but it’s hard to tell.
12. *fast gallop on a few stringed instruments.
13. *fast solo improv on komuz.
14. **slow, subdued drone and flute, solo male vocals after 1.5 minutes or so. Interesting story in the liner notes, BTW.
15. *solo bowed instrument. Like most of the instruments, it’s pretty subtle, with harmonic overtones.
16. **uptempo strummed instrument, solo female vocals, complex melody.
17. **solo komuz, fairly dynamic. Rather astounding story in the liner notes here, too.
18. **full ensemble, uptempo, pretty and lighthearted.



Track Listing
 ArtistTrack Name
1. Nyshanov, Nurlanbek Jangylyk (Novelty)
2. Ensemble Tengir-Too Erke Kyz (The Spoiled Girl)
3. Imanaliev, Zaindin Kuidum Chok (I Brn, I Smoulder Like Charcoal)
4. Ensemble Tengir-Too & Rysbek Jumabaev Episode From The Manas: Kokotoi's Memorial Feast
5. Nyshanov, Nurlanbek Belek (Gift)
6. Jumabaev, Ruslan Kara Ozgoi (Impudent One)
7. Ensemble Tengir-Too Kyiylyp Turam (I'm Sad To Say Goodbye)
8. Abdrakhmanov, Nurak Attila Khan
9. Ensemble Tengir-Too Ak Satkyn Menen Kulmyrza
10. Nyshanov, Nurlanbek Fantasy On The Chopo Choor
11. Imanaliev, Zaindin Gul (Flower)
12. Ensemble Tengir-Too Jol Jurush (On The Road)
13. Uraliev, Namazbek Kengesh (Soviet)
14. Ensemble Tengir-Too Esimde (I Remember)
15. Chytyrbaev, Baktybek Ker Ozon (Wide Valley)
16. Ensemble Tengir-Too Sagynam (I Miss You)
17. Abdrakhmanov, Nurak Kambarkan
18. Ensemble Tengir-Too Kyz Oigotoor (A Melody That Wakes Up A Girl)