The Orphan's Lament is an album by the Tuvan musical group Huun-Huur-Tu.[3][4] It was released in 1994.[5] The group supported the album with a North American tour.[6]

The Orphan's Lament
Studio album by
Released1994
GenreTuvan throat singing[1]
LabelShanachie[2]
ProducerAlexander Bapa
Huun-Huur-Tu chronology
60 Horses in My Herd
(1993)
The Orphan's Lament
(1994)
If I'd Been Born an Eagle
(1997)

Production

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Recorded in New York and Moscow, the album was produced by Alexander Bapa, who also played percussion.[7][8][9] Anatoli Kuular joined the group after the departure of Albert Kuvezin.[10] The group used a doshpuluur as well as a dazhaanning khavy, a percussive instrument crafted from a bull scrotum.[11][12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [13]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[14]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide     [8]

Entertainment Weekly praised the "rich, piercingly evocative musical universe."[14] The New York Times wrote that "the group has met Western listeners partway, keeping songs short and varied; some sound like Appalachian rural tunes from half a world away."[15] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that "the vocal intensity has been toned down in places and there is a greater emphasis on lilting instrumental work."[16] The Record stated that "there are subtle rhythmic patterns and even subtler musical textures that imitate the sound of creatures and the wind of the Siberian plains."[11]

AllMusic wrote: "Not content to blindly follow traditional Central Asian folk music, Huun Huur Tu's four, sometimes five, performers create an ensemble that offers a complex, fascinating, and harmonious mixture."[13] The album was included in 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.[17] In 2003, The Independent listed it among the 50 essential "world music" albums.[18]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Prayer" 
2."Ancestors" 
3."Aa-Shuu Dekei-Oo" 
4."Eerbek-Aksy" 
5."The Orphan's Lament" 
6."Kaldak Khamar" 
7."Steppe" 
8."Borbanngadyr" 
9."Chiraa-Khoor ('The Yellow Trotter')" 
10."Exile's Song" 
11."Eki Attar" 
12."Irik Chuduk ('The Rotting Log')" 
13."Sygyt" 
14."Agitator" 
15."Khomuz Medley" 
16."Ödugen Taiga" 

References

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  1. ^ Point, Michael (14 Feb 1995). "Singers build bridge from Tuva to Texas". Austin American-Statesman. p. E7.
  2. ^ Danielson, Virginia; Reynolds, Dwight; Marcus, Scott (September 25, 2017). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: The Middle East. Routledge.
  3. ^ Suzuki, Dean (Jun 1995). "Street cred — The Orphan's Lament by Huun-Huur-Tu". Wired. Vol. 3, no. 6. p. 182.
  4. ^ Livingstone, William (Jun 1995). "Quick fixes — The Orphan's Lament by Huun-Huur Tu". Stereo Review. Vol. 60, no. 6. p. 88.
  5. ^ Broughton, Simon; Ellingham, Mark; Trillo, Richard; Duane, Orla; McConnachie, James (August 10, 2000). World Music: Latin and North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific. Rough Guides.
  6. ^ "Throat Singers of Tuva". The Milwaukee Journal. 6 Jan 1995. p. 15E.
  7. ^ Warshall, Peter (Summer 1997). "Tuvinian Singers & Musicians". Whole Earth. No. 90. p. 94.
  8. ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 332.
  9. ^ Bender, Sarah C. (January 26, 1995). "Mongolian Band a Hit on Campuses". Journal Star. Peoria. p. C4.
  10. ^ "Huun-Huur-Tu Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  11. ^ a b Porter, Mark (February 17, 1995). "Siberia's Throaty Songsters". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. Hackensack. p. 7.
  12. ^ Condon, Garret (19 Jan 1995). "The Orphan's Lament Huun Huur Tu". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 5.
  13. ^ a b "Huun-Huur-Tu The Orphan's Lament". AllMusic.
  14. ^ a b "The Orphan's Lament". Entertainment Weekly.
  15. ^ Pareles, Jon (21 Feb 1995). "Strange Asian Sounds That Defy Western Notation". The New York Times. p. C14.
  16. ^ Varga, George (February 2, 1995). "The Orphan's Lament Huun-Huur-Tu". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 10.
  17. ^ Moon, Tom (August 28, 2008). 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List. Workman Publishing.
  18. ^ Church, Michael (27 June 2003). "World Music: On top of the world". Features. The Independent. pp. 20, 21.