Kongar-ol Ondar
Kongar-ool Borisovich Ondar (Tuvan: Ондар Коңгар-оол Борис оглу, Ondar Konggar-ool Boris oglu, [ɔnˈdɑr kɔŋˈɡɑrɔːɮ bɐˈris ɔˈɡlu]; 29 March 1962 – 25 July 2013) was a master Tuvan throat singer and a member of the Great Khural of Tuva. Ondar was born near the Khemchik River in western Tuva. Considered a living treasure by the Republic of Tuva, Ondar was granted a stipend and an apartment for the musical skills he possessed. Jovial and personable, Ondar is probably the best-known face of khöömei (Tuvan: хөөмей) throat singing to Westerners, appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman and in interviews for CNN and other networks.
Kongar-ool Ondar Ондар Коңгар-оол | |
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Ondar in 1993 | |
Background information | |
Born | Near the Khemchik River, Tuvan ASSR, Soviet Union (now Tuva, Russia) | 29 March 1962
Died | 25 July 2013 51) Kyzyl, Tuva, Russia | (aged
Genres | Tuvan throat singing |
Instruments | Doshpuluur, Igil, Chanzy |
Years active | 1980 - 2013 |
Labels | Warner Bros. Records |
Website | ondar |
In the Central Asian tradition of self-fulfilling child naming, Kongar-ool literally translates to "loud boy."
Ondar is also known outside Tuva for inviting American blues musician Paul Pena to Tuva. Pena, who had learned throat singing before coming to Tuva, was the subject of the documentary Genghis Blues in which Ondar was also featured.
In 1992, Ondar won an international throat-singing contest, which brought invitations to perform in Europe and the United States.[1] In 1993, he performed at Frank Zappa's eclectic "garden party/soiree" gathering in his last days.[2]
He also appears on the Béla Fleck and the Flecktones albums Outbound, album/DVD Live at the Quick, and Jingle All the Way.[3] He released one album on Warner Bros. Records titled Back Tuva Future.
His first studio album was made in 1996 and was called Echoes of Tuva, by the TuvaMuch Music label.
He died after emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage in Kyzyl on July 25, 2013. He was 51 years old.[4]
References
- Woo, Elaine (August 10, 2013), "Kongar-ol Ondar, master of Tuvan throat singing, dies at 51", The Los Angeles Times
- Frank Zappa - Salad Party Home Video Feb 15th 1993
- Béla Fleck and the Flecktones album Live at the Quick at AllMusic.com
- Reuters Entertainment Ondar death
External links
- Kongar-ol Ondar's homepage
- Kongar-ol Ondar on IMDb
- Kongar-ol Ondar at AllMusic
- Tyvam (My Tuva) by Kongar-ol Ondar, Evgeny Saryglar and Alash Ensemble with subtitles
- Live performance on The Chevy Chase Show in 1993 with Bady-Dorzhu Ondar
- Live performance on Late Show with David Letterman in 1999
- Live performance at Kraft House