Harmonic Singing, also called Overtone Chant and Diphonic Singing, is a vocal technique in which each singer emits two notes at once. This technique modulates the voice so that one can hear the fundamental tone and at the same time one of its harmonics. Originally, guttural throat singing comes from Central Asia (Tuva, Altai, Kazajistan, Mongolia). It is called khoomei, and it's one of the world's oldest form of music, where it is very much linked with the nomadic and shamanic traditions.
The peculiarity of MuOM, founded in 2008 by Moises Perez, Farran Sylvan James and Joaquin Manjon, is that these techniques are brought into the choral context, inspired by such ensembles as the Harmonic Choir by David Hykes and Prana by Baird Hersey. The result is a music that is formed by two superimposed planes, which overlap and intertwine to form richly layered harmonies.
The result is a meditative journey, with static harmonies and minimalist melodies, inspired by the need to explore the sonorous universe of the voice. Because there is a lot of improvisation, the connection between the public and the performers becomes very vibrant. There is a cultivated awareness and presence on stage which aims at bringing the audience into an inner realm of calm, peace and contemplation.
MuOM's members are very versatile, including professional instrumentalists and solo singers. This allows for more creative possibilities, and in some of the pieces one can hear, soaring over the texture of voices, a mystical violin improvisation, a sensual voice or trancelike percussion.
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