Khudain Gol: Voices of the Kuda Valley

Buryats are a native people of the Republic of Buryatia, the Irkutsk region and the Transbaikal region. The Irkutsk Region (Russian: oblast) consists of 32 districts (Russian: rayons), six of which form the Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Area (Russian: okrug) with the capital in the village of Ust-Ordynsky (Ust-Orda). Thus, in the administrative structure, the okrug has an intermediate position between the region and the district. From 1990 to 2008, however, it was a separate subject of the Russian Federation equal in status to a region. In 2008 the status was downgraded.

 

The Khudain Gol (“Kuda Valley” in Buryat) Ensemble was founded in Ust-Orda in 1986. The band performs folk songs of the local Buryats in their own arrangements. The leader is Nina Baldynova, the choirmaster is Bayar Zhambalov.

 

On the album cover photo, from left to right:

1. Irina Yatogurova: vocals

2. Bayar Zhambalov: vocals, chanza (10, 11)

3. Victoria Khakhalova: vocals

4. Nina Baldynova: vocals

5. Andrey Banzaraktsaev: vocals, solo vocals (10)

6. Nina Baldaeva: vocals

7. Elena Barkhunova: vocals

8. Alexander Mantatov: vocals, solo vocals (11)

9. Victoria Mandanova: vocals

10. Albina Makhasoeva: vocals

11. Alexander Tsybenov: vocals

 

The Buryat song titles are written as given by the performers and may differ slightly from the literary version.

 

Recorded on July 18, 2022 at the Ust-Ordynsky House of Culture, Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Area, Irkutsk Region, Russia.

 

Thanks to Irina Molotkova, the ensemble, Lyudmila Gerda, and Natalya Dmitrieva.