The Living Earth was created in 2010. This project revives Russian root music, as well as being a multicultural project. It unites musicians playing different folk
instruments, Russian and those collected from different parts of the world. The project is a journey into the world of Slavic archaic art, living traditions, ancient Russian songs and instruments.
The sound of The Living Earth is filled with free improvisation, woven from
natural rhythms and harmonies which lie in the basis of folk music. Overtone
sounding melodic instruments, swinging grooves and polyrhythms from archaic drums
emphasize the power and beauty of the songs.
Most of the musicians spend a lot of time travelling around the world,
inspired for the quest for new knowledge and musical discoveries, becoming more knowledgeable and better skilled in their playing.
Initiator and inspirer of the project - Tatyana Kalmykova - vocalist,
performer, composer and researcher of ancient Russian music. Tatyana was a
student of Dmitry Pokrovsky in 1997 and has made expeditions across Russia to
search for traditional culture in the Smolensk, Bryansk, Belgorod, Vologda, Arkhangelsk, Karelia, Khakasia and Tuva regions.
Tatyana was a member of the group "OLE lukkoye" (SPb) and the multimedia project
"Group 2012". In 2003, she initiated a solo project SWA and since 2008 has been
a member of the CSI project, combining the tradition of Znamenny chant Orthodox
music with the tradition of the avant-garde of the 20th century. She co-operates with modern theatre, and her music has been heard in many soundtracks for plays and films.
The Living Earth Participants:
1. Tatyana Kalmykova -voice, gudok (ancient russian violin, like mongolian or tuvinian, but has 3 strings), khomus.
2. Kirill Osherov - percussion drum set.
3. Andrey Tanzu - percussion, frame drums.
4. Vadim Batura - santoor.
5. Datura Inoxios - didgeridoo.
6. Ruslan Nesterov - Hajaj (Moroccan bass).
Guests of the project:
Sergei Starostin - voice, brass (zhaleyka, kalyuka, clarinet, sopilka), gusli.
Zhiharev Alexander - bills, the oldest instrument, known in Russia until the bells (bronze plastines).
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