KUT Performed for a Full House at Wolf Creek's Welcome Center
Written by Bryan J. Smith
Tuesday, 05 February 2008
KUT came all the way from Kyrgyzstan and performed for us at Wolf Creek's welcome center. Amazing people, beautiful costumes and wonderful ethnic folk songs about family, horses and love. I fell for the white shoes, but that's just me.
The
traditional music of Kyrgyzstan came to Ogden Valley as part of a Rocky Mountain
tour. The haunting melodies and exciting rhythms of this ancient music were performed by the award-winning ensemble, KUT (pronounced "koot") on
Sunday, January 27t
, at 7:00 p.m., at Wolf Creek Resort Welcome Center , 3632 North Wolf
Creek Drive , Eden . Traditional Kyrgyzstani handicrafts,
rugs and other items will be on sale one hour prior to the concert.
This
event was sponsored by Mark and Marsha Rasmussen, Wolf Creek Resort and
Vista 360°. All proceeds will go to Kut and Vista 360°.
The purpose
of the tour is to introduce American audiences to this music, which evokes the
mountains and nomadic way of life of the Kyrgyz people. There are many
similarities between the Kyrgyz traditions and the American cowboy, including a
love of horses. The Kyrgyz people were among the first horseman of the
world.
KUT is a
family ensemble made up of a husband, wife and three sons. They are a
shepherd family based in the village
of Bokembaeva on the shore of Lake
Issyk-Kul in northern Kyrgyzstan .
The husband and wife also direct the village music school. They are
extremely accomplished musicians who play all the instruments of the region and
who have a calling for the preservation of their traditional music.
The oldest
son, Nurbek, is currently a student at the Kyrgyz National Conservatory.
He is dedicated to re-discovering and re-creating some of the lost songs of the
Kyrgyz 1,000-year old tradition, of which only fragments survive. He
builds and plays some of the oldest musical instruments in the world, including
several which were designed to be played on horseback. They are warm and
engaging performers and teachers who will make a strong connection to Rocky Mountain
audiences and be excellent "artist ambassadors" for their country.
The group, KUT, was formed in 2000
and has received numerous awards at music and folklore festivals in Kyrgyzstan
during the past six years. The word, "KUT", means spirit, soul or life force in the Kyrgyz
language.
Tour sponsor, Vista 360°, is a non-profit organization
dedicated to fostering cooperation between mountain people around the
world. Based in Jackson Hole, Vista 360° has created a
partnership between the Northern Rockies and Kyrgyzstan which includes cultural
exch ange , economic cooperation in
the fields of art and handicrafts, training for cultural workers and
initiatives to use creativity to support sustainable development.
Also
from the Tien Shen Mountains of Kyrgyzstan comes an extraordinary collection of
art and handicrafts, including one-of-a-kind wool felt rugs, embroidered
wall hangings, toys for children, hats, slippers and unique silk scarves with
felt inlays. The collection includes both traditional Kyrgyz work and
contemporary designs by Kyrgyz artists. This trunk show and sale - which you
can enjoy before and after the concert -- features items rarely seen in the
U.S. and benefits Vista 360˚ in their support and development of Kyrgyz artists
and craftsmen.
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