German and Klavdia Khatylaev

  The art of magnificent duet

 This site is dedicated to the Khatylaevs, a husband and wife duet from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Their spiritual folk music expresses a deep connection to the land. The practice and form of the music has ancient roots spanning back into the annals of a nomadic and pagan history.

The main philosophy of the music created by the Khatylaevs is to utilize traditional techniques of the long forgotten musical practices of Sakha. Their music includes imitations of nature such as the songs and chirpings of birds, horses' hooves on frozen lands, as well as ecstatic nays and breath, all mimicking the overpowering sound of a natural world interwoven with the Sakha culture.

The Khatylaevs began their musical odyssey in 1987 and they were the first to rejuvenate several Sakha musical instruments that had largely gone out of practice. These include several string and drum-based instruments that had been nearly forgotten.

Their technique and style is a combination of innovation and tradition, at once focusing on new forms of musical expression with an understanding of the history of the people and their culture. One of the main intentions of the Khatylaevs family is to preserve the history and land of their people. Furthermore, they believe it is of the utmost importance to have harmony in one's life.

Music is the soul of the Sakha land and its inhabitants. And if you want to experience the cold breath of winter, to listen to nature awakening in spring, the music represented on this site can help you to savor such intense feelings.

The Sakha land contains mysteries and untold legends of former nomads, who historically preserved their music in their hearts and their minds. However, during the last three centuries of forced Russification, much cultural tradition and language has been lost. In spite of this, the people of Sakha have done much to retain their familial, societal, and cultural norms. The Khatylaevs are seeking to expand and solidify this preservation through their music.

For the people of Sakha, music has spiritual connotations that are steeped in ritual and meaning. For example, when playing the Khomus, a traditional instrument of the land, one must first warm it, usually by rubbing it with the palm of one's hand. It is also an insult to the spirit of Khomus if the khomus is played with a sore throat. For the Sakha, as for many cultures throughout the world, music is thought to have the power to heal. The Khatylaevs certainly believe this. In the reaching and lulling sounds of their unique style, one may imagine not only many animals in nature, but also more complex ideas such as shamans battling demons and evil spirits for the salvation of a person's soul.

Design by Vera and Zhargal Solovyev

Text by Bradley G. Reynolds and Natalya G. Khokholova

Photo by Masha Dubrovskaya and from Khatylaev's archive

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Contact e-mail: sd@sakhaopenworld.org