Xo'o'mii

Xo'o'mii or diaphonic singing (sometimes described as throat-singing or overtone singing) developed as a higher stage of whistling, transposed into a unique and unusual technical form. This form of musical expression involves the whistling of a richly-ornamented melody with the tip of the tongue and the front teeth, while simultaneously accompanying this melody with a lower, rumbling base tone produced in the throat, which harmonizes with the higher melody. Like whistling, diaphonic singing originated as an imitation of the sounds of nature.

There are several distinct techniques for producing the xo'o'mii overtones, using the nose, throat, chest or diaphragm. This form of folk art is most common in the western part of Mongolia, and this style is also known among some of the peoples of Central Asian including the Tuvans and certain ethnic groups in the Altai Mountains.

CategoryEncyclopaediaMongolica

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