Erkin Alekseev

Plays khomus, a traditional Yakut music insturment, a variation of Jew’s harp. Performs in both ethnic and modern styles. Master of birds and animals’ vocal imitation. Is in charge of scientific work at the Museum and Center of The Khomus of The People of The World. In 2021, Erkin Alekseev won the regional khomus playing competition «Spring Rhythms» at the Muus uSTAR festival. «An ode to vastness, jingling bowstring» was made exclusively for a competition with fellow musicians. Khomus, also known as vargan, has been around for thousands of years, its prototypes originated in primitive societies. This tool is found in the cultures of more than 200 peoples of the world and has reached the present day without much change. With a very simple structure, it can convey an incredible variety of sounds. The Yakut style of playing khomus is distinguished by the fact that in addition to musical melodies, the performer often combines the articulation of lyrics and extra-melodic timbral variations, which also include imitation of the sounds of nature. This is a meditative game aimed primarily at performer looking inside himself.

Location: Yakutsk, Russia