In 1992 Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, Alexander Bapa, his brother Sayan Bapa, and Albert Kuvezin founded the quartet Kungurtuk, as a means of concentrating on the presentation of traditional songs of their homeland. The musicians later decided to rename the ensemble Huun-Huur-Tu. After the first album 60 Horses in my Herd (1993), Kuvezin left the band to form the more rock-oriented Yat-Kha. Kuvezin was replaced by Anatoli Kuular, who had previously worked with Khovalyg and Kongar-ool Ondar as part of the Tuva Ensemble. In 1995, Alexander Bapa, who had produced the first two albums, departed the band to pursue production as a full-time career. He was replaced by Alexei Saryglar. In 2003 Kuular quit the band and was replaced by Andrey Mongush.
The name Huun-Huur-Tu (sometimes spelled without hyphens) translates literally to "Sun Propeller," a Tuvan term referring to the special kind of light you can see streaming down through the clouds at dawn or down through densely leaved trees at noon.
The most distinctive characteristic of Huun Huur Tu's music is throat singing, in which the singers sing both the note (drone) and the drone's overtone(s), thus producing two or three notes simultaneously. The overtone may sound like a flute, whistle or bird, but is solely a product of the human voice.
The group primarily uses native Tuvan instruments such as the igil, khomus (Tuvan jaw harp), doshpuluur, and dünggür (shaman drum). However, in recent years, the group has begun to selectively incorporate western instruments, such as the guitar. While the thrust of Huun Huur Tu's music is fundamentally indigenous Tuvan folk music, they also experiment with incorporating not only Western instruments, but electronic music as well.
Their website is http://www.hhtmusic.com
Prayer
Huun-Huur-Tu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sularavas byjyg turzun
Syryg maldyn bajy mendi
Syrlyg kyjy ulam ossyn
Aimak chonum toleezi boop
Amagailap teilep or men
Tandymaidan orshee dilep
Avyraldap chalbaryy dyr
of my people,
let it be even stronger.
Let our herds and our wealth
grow and expand.
In the name of my people,
I bow down and pray,
asking for mercy and help
from the great powers
of Tandy steppe.
Que croisse et s’affermisse
la force spirituelle
de mon peuple.
Que croissent et fructifient
nos troupeaux et notre richesse.
Au nom de mon peuple,
je m’incline et prie,
j’implore aide et miséricorde
des puissants esprits
de la steppe de Tandy.
The lyrics to Huun-Huur-Tu's song "Prayer" express a deep sense of spirituality and reverence for the Tandy steppe and the people who inhabit it. The singer begins by invoking the high spiritual strength of their people and asking for it to become even stronger. They then go on to pray for the growth and expansion of their herds and wealth, which are essential to the survival of their community.
The prayer is a humble one, with the singer bowing down and asking for mercy and help from the great powers of the Tandy steppe. This indicates a deep belief in the power of nature and the spirits that inhabit it, which are seen as forces greater than human beings. The use of language such as "let it be even stronger" and "grow and expand" shows a clear desire for abundance and prosperity, both for the individual and the community as a whole.
Overall, the lyrics of "Prayer" convey a profound sense of reverence for the natural world and the power of the spirits that inhabit it. The singer's humility and desire for spiritual and material growth reflect a deep respect for the traditional way of life of their people.
Line by Line Meaning
Sumu chonnum sur le kyjy
May the high spiritual strength of my people grow and strengthen even more.
Sularavas byjyg turzun
Let our herds and wealth flourish and expand.
Syryg maldyn bajy mendi
May our prosperity increase and be abundant.
Syrlyg kyjy ulam ossyn
Let our people be united in strength and power.
Aimak chonum toleezi boop
In the name of my people, I humbly bow down and pray.
Amagailap teilep or men
I ask for mercy and help.
Tandymaidan orshee dilep
I seek aid from the great powers of Tandy steppe.
Avyraldap chalbaryy dyr
May our plea be heard and answered.
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Smiljana
on Saryglarlar
by the Tambourine Boulders.
Dismounted people get held up,
because of the beauty of Saryglarlar maidens.
Travelers slow down by the Shangyr place.
They are slowed down
by the beauty of Saryglarlar maidens.
Noble bandits at the amazing Khovuzhuk place.
The Part of my soul it's this song
Hoping to Learn
on Exile's Song
I appreciate the translation very much, thank you. It’s been hard to find any english lyrics.