Metamorphoses

An eccentric physicist, Richard Feynman was a man of many talents. In 1965 he won the Nobel prize for his brilliant contributions to the quantum theory. But besides that, he also had great talent for playing the bongo and for cracking safes, though the latter he did only for pranking reasons with his colleague’s safe-deposit boxes. Feynman was fascinated by the then-autonomous Soviet republic of Tuva in South Siberia and its remarkable musical culture. In the 80s, Feynman made plans to travel to and through Tuva in order to experience said special music first hand. However, the Cold War and his premature death got in the way of his adventurous plans.
In this Metamorphoses, we follow the musical trail of Feynman, looking at the CD Deep in the Heart of Tuva. Ralph Leighton made a compilation of field recordings and concert performances of musicians from Tuva, as a tribute to his good friend Feynman.
He also added two songs by American blues singer Paul "Earthquake" Pena, who taught himself the characteristic overtone singing of Tuva. Feynman would likely have appreciated that: an overtone singing blues singer.

1. Teve Haia (trad.)   
   CD. (comp.) Deep in the Heart of Tuva. Cowboy Music from the Wild East. Ellipsis Arts (1996) 4080.
2. Kongar-ool Ondar (Shamanistic prayer for Richard Feynman (trad.)
3. Oleg Kuular (Collection of Höömeï Styles) (trad.)
4. Fly, Fly My Sadness (Huun-Huur-Tu)
   CD. (comp.) Deep in the Heart of Tuva. Cowboy. Music from the Wild East. Ellipsis Arts (1996) 4080
5. Na Těle Plášť (Bittova/Fajt)
6. Ukolebavka (Bittova)
7. Plavil Janko Kone (Bittova/David)
8. Za Naším (Bittova/Fajt)   
   CD. Iva Bittova. Bittova & Fajt. Pavian Records (2012 (orr.1987)) PM0065-2
9. What You Talkin’ About? (Pena)
10. Fantasy On The Igil (trad.)
11. Tuvan Industrial (trad.)
12. Bai-Laa Taigam (trad.)
13. Kargyrra Moan (Pena)
    CD. (comp.) Deep in the Heart of Tuva. Cowboy Music from the Wild East. Ellipsis Arts (1996) 4080.