Alzin hears a Shu

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Permalink Reply by Dan Zimmermann on July 7, 2012 at 4:52am

"Shu-de" is an exclamation that means "let's go" or "giddyup", but is used more like "yeah" like in rock or pop music.

The lone syllable "shu" is often used like that as well, especially in the song "Kaldak Khamar", performed by Huun Huur Tu.

To end a phrase of throat singing, singers are often heard pronouncing a syllable like "doh" or "doi" with the last puff of air. And since I also have no real Tuvan training, I don't know whether this is a style thing or a thing all these singers have learned from the same master, because not all of them do it all the time. I personally most often end phrases with "diu" while dropping the fundamental pitch very quickly and at the same time loosening constriction.

For me, that's preference. I also do not sing "shu" ever, and I don't bow at the end of a song and proclaim "shu-de". I also do not sing Tuvan language lyrics in Xorekteer, and I have not properly rehearsed any Tuvan songs in their entirety. That is why I do not consider myself a true Khoomeizhi but a learner still.

Permalink Reply by Dan Zimmermann on July 7, 2012 at 4:54am

I'm told in the context of song lyrics, neither "shu" or "aa shu dekei-oo" mean anything beyond "hidey hidey ho" or "e-i-e-i-o" or "do wop doo lang doo lang"... while I am getting the impression that "Dyngeldei" is a proper name, but I am unsure whose name.

Permalink Reply by Alzin on July 7, 2012 at 8:32am

I noticed it for example in this performance of Ekki Attar by Alash. And I remember peterofthecorn (I think) mentioning that when he is spoken to while singing khoomei, he starts speaking in a constricted voice. I guess that made me think...

Permalink Reply by Dan Zimmermann on July 7, 2012 at 5:57pm

lol I don't remember him saying that, but I imagine him now speaking like Ned from SouthPark... or Wolfman Jack, and it's quite funny.

Permalink Reply by Utelo on November 20, 2012 at 4:26pm

for me it's just an interjection, as Dan said, like 'let's go' or somthing of the kind. It is also quite in use during tunes where there is an acceleration, like when a horse start galoping :)