Mongol Huumii

Mongol Huumii involves producing two simultaneous tones with the human voice. It is a difficult skill requiring special ways of breathing. One tone comes out as a whistle- like sound, the result of locked breath in the chest being forced out through the throat in a specific way, while a lower tone sounds as a base. Huumii is considered musical art- not exactly singing, but using ones throat like an instrument. Depending on the way, air is exhaled from the lungs, there are various ways of classifying huumii, including Bagalzuuriin (laryngeal) huumii, Tagnain (palatine), Hooloin (guttural), Hamriin (nasal) hoomii etc. Professional huumii performers are found in only few areas with certain traditions.