throat singing

Throat singing (also called overtone singing or harmonic singing) exploits the physics of the human voice: every sung note naturally contains a series of higher frequencies (overtones or harmonics). By precisely shaping the mouth, tongue, and throat, a singer can amplify individual overtones so strongly that they become audible as a separate, whistle-like melody floating above the fundamental drone. The effect is a single human voice producing two distinct pitches simultaneously. The most famous tradition is khöömei from Tuva (a Russian republic bordering Mongolia), where throat singing is central to cultural identity and has been practiced for centuries. Mongolian and Inuit traditions also feature distinctive throat singing styles. The technique has fascinated Western musicians and scientists alike — physicists study it as a demonstration of acoustic principles, while musicians from Björk to avant-garde composers have incorporated it into contemporary works. UNESCO inscribed Mongolian throat singing as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010.