Johanni Curtet

Artists in Residency

Johanni Curtet

Johanni Curtet (France)

Johanni Curtet is a musician, overtone singer and ethnomusicologist. Johanni teaches khöömii (Mongolian overtone singing) at cultural and educational institutions, among these the University of Rennes 2, the Philharmonie de Paris and Centre for the Heritage of Instrument-Making.

Johanni is the Artistic director of Routes Nomads Association and produces concert tours of Mongolian overtone singing and also performs alonside his master Tserendavaa and his son Tsogtgerel.

In the study of khöömii, Johanni focuses on the origin, history, spectacularization, heritagization and transmission of this vocal technique in Mongolia.

Music and Dance from Mongolia

The Mongols cultivate unique vocal and instrumental music, and dance forms, whose techniques and ornaments often evoke the natural world and the environment. To take us on a sensory journey through Mongolia’s vast landscapes, the concert presents soloists who show the specifics of khöömii (throat singing), urtyn duu (long-song), magtaal (praise songs), domog (legends), morin khuur (horse-head fiddle), limbe (flute) and biyelgee (traditional dance). UNESCO has recognized a large number of these practices as aspects of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.