Music can be sweet and melodic, yet also eerie and gritty. This yin-yangish quality will be impressed upon Sacramento State students when a group of Tuvan throat singers comes to Capistrano Hall on September 14th.

Tuvan throat singers are undeniably unique in that they sing multiple chords at the same time. The singing is guttural, yet its high tones bring to mind a more pleasant melody.

Tuvan throat singing originated in the Republic of Tuva, which is sandwiched between Russia and Mongolia in Central Asia. The late physicist Richard Feynman was fascinated by throat singing, and his interest inspired others to learn its history and techniques. Major attention came after PBS’ “Nova” TV series profiled the life of Feynman. He constantly tried to make the long journey to Tuva before his death, yet he was never able to go.

In the mid-1990s, Tuvan throat singing groups began making their way to the Bay Area to perform for new audiences. A New Jersey record label released Deep in the Heart of Tuva: Cowboy Music from the Wild East in 1996. Since then, other Tuvan throat singers have come to the United States, particularly to the Bay Area, where throat-singing workshops are held.

Professor Jim Chopyak, who specializes in ethnomusicology at CSUS, planned the throat singers’ visit to campus. As a part of the performance, “we have one vocalist who will be doing ritual healing performances,” Chopyak said.

There are many benefits to attending the performance, most notably the opportunity to experience a completely different culture. “It’s mind-expanding and ear-expanding?(and is a) great opportunity to experience another culture firsthand,” Chopyak said. He praises the throat singers as “phenomenal” and “impressive.”

The throat singers performing are Igor Koshkendey, an award-winning singer, and Ai-Churek, who specializes in healing rituals. The program begins at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14th, and tickets are available through the Sac State ticket office at (916) 278-4323; prices are $15 for the general public, and $10 for seniors and students.