Welcome to my pages!
My website is dedicated to the traditional music of Kalmyks and related ethnic group of Oirad, or Western Mongols. Their music heritage has a common foundation and its local specifics. The historical way of Kalmyks-Oirad, the last great nomads of Eurasia, played out rather dramatic. Once united and powerful, they had created its own statehood, code of laws, and writing, nowadays are scattered over the territories of Russia, Mongolia, and China.
I started my music education in my home city of Elista, Russia. Then at age fourteen I went to the Specialized Music School in Saint Petersburg, and later on entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. As a musicology student I participated in my very first folklore expedition to the Vologda region of Russia. Coming from classical musical background, hearing folk singers made such a profound impression on me that I immediately made my mind to study oral music. This is how I rediscovered my own native culture and started my field work in Kalmykia, and later in Mongolia and China.
Along my path into traditional music, I met beautiful people and performers, and with every new step my admiration and respect for their natural musicianship, wisdom, and skills grew deeper.
My scientific interests are primarily involved with long songs Ut Dun, dombra and tovshuur music. As an educator I offer my practical knowledge in singing and teaching folk songs so these beautiful tunes continued to be sung for generations to come.
My scientific interests are primarily involved with long songs Ut Dun, dombra and tovshuur music. As an educator I offer my practical knowledge in singing and teaching folk songs so these beautiful tunes continued to be sung for generations to come.