The Wandering Microphone

For centuries, there has been a tradition in the Syberian Chakassië of telling epic stories, called alyptyg nymach. These stories are told and sang by interpreters called khaidjy. The word khaidjy finds its origin from the word khai, which is the name of the exceptional throat singing technique, which is being used to interpret these epic poems. Alyptyg nymach has a different status, compared to the other musical genres in Chakassië. It is believed that the khaidjy gets in contact with the spirits – like shamans – and that the execution of an epic story has healing or magical powers. A real khaidjy receives the task to tell stories from a grandparent (a protecting spirit) in a dream. The lyrics are being whispered in his ear, and his musical talent is developed during his dream, with the help of a special spirit, the Master of the epic poets. Just like a shaman, who receives the gift to heal people, the khaidjy doesn’t have any other choice than to follow the instructions of the spirits. Otherwise, he gets sick or mentally ill. Ignoring the wishes of the spirits can even lead to his death. During the Soviet Union, this tradition had almost disappeared completely. After 1991 – when the the Soviet Union fell apart – a flourishing creativity came into being among all ethnic minorities. New life was given to the traditional spirits world. In 1994, Slava Kutsjenov – a 24-year old, freshly graduated sculptor – was suddenly called in a dream, to tell stories and to sing. He didn’t know anything about music, he couldn’t sing or play an instrument. And yet, he was the chosen one. Within six months – with help of his musician friends – he learned to play the khomys, a Chakassian lute. The lyrics and vocal techniques he learned from his spiritual mentor, in his dreams. You will be listening to fragments of the epic story “Ai Tsjarykh-Khan”, Master of the Clear Moon, recorded in Akaban, capital of Chakassië,  in October 1994. The story tells in a symbolic way the current problems of the Chakassian people, who have lost their identity and pride, their gods, and how they don’t honour the spirits of the nature anymore, and suffer from alcoholism. The story tells that the hope is in the hands of the future generation of Chakassians, who will be taking fate into their own hands. On this recording, Slava Kutsjenov leads himself on the khomys lute and Jew’s harp. Nowadays, Slava Kutsjenov Zasluzhenny is Artist Respubliki Khakassia, an honoured Artist of the Republic of Chakassië. This recording has not yet been released and comes directly from the collection of Maxim Chapochnikov. The complete recording time of the original recording is almost two hours. With thanks to Liesbet Nyssen