Genre Research Project 72/1361: Altai Traditional Music

Altai Traditional Music is the traditional music of the Altai people. It is a form of Turkic-Mongolic Traditional Music, which has developed in isolation in the mountains of the Altai Republic and Altai Krai (regions of the Russian Federation). It has similarities to other neighboring styles such as Tuvan, Khakas and Mongolian music but also has a rather unique sound.

There is major usage of Throat Singing in Altai music: the local style is known as kai or khai, which is used mainly for epic performance of poetry, and is often accompanied by topshur (a two-stringed lute). Altai vocalists make large usage of vocal imitations of nature - primarily birds.