As we closed our eyes, a stream of soothing sounds emerged from the singer's throat. Then, above the melodic line, we could hear a series of unearthly and bell-like tones floating above the primary and deep voice of the chanter. Where was it coming from? How could this singer produce multiple pitches of sound simultaneously?

That was my first encounter with overtone singing. Practiced by nomadic tribes of South Siberia for centuries, the first written records of this come from the 16th century. A few recordings of this vocal technique from Mongolia were released in the West during the early 1970s. Similar chanting techniques are found in Tibetan monasteries and individual South African tribes. These days, Western practitioners apply the technique to sing contemporary works such as Amazing Grace.

The healing properties of overtones

As it turns out, overtone singing is an ancient art of healing. Similar to certain whale sounds, overtone singing carries extraordinarily powerful tones for resonating with the energies of Gaia. Recently, medical practitioners and healers have begun to take advantage of its magic to help patients in all kinds of predicaments to recover.

"This session created a powerful, safe space for me to heal from a sudden shock. I had just learned of the death of a friend and felt frozen in my grief. During the session I felt the presence of my departed friend and began moving toward the healing of my grief," said a patient from New Zealand.

Aside from helping palliate grief, overtone singing can also relieves stress, anxiety, sinus congestion and headaches, as well as restore equilibrium in the endocrine system by vibrating the pituitary. According to some theorists, the sound of overtones helps to balance the two hemispheres of the brain, as it engages both the logical, reasoning left-brain, due to the mathematically precise proportions of the overtone scale, and the creative, intuitive right brain through the musical expression possible.

When we are ill, some part of us is not vibrating in harmony with itself, the other parts, or its surroundings. This dissonance, or illness, may be healed with sound and intention, restoring the afflicted parts to their healthy frequency. By directing the correct sound toward the sick, the patient returns to an optimum, healthy vibration. The human voice is the best musical instrument to perform this task.

Launching your vocal exploration

While one needs guidance and continuous practice to master the proper techniques, it is simple and easy to utilize the underlying principles to enhance our own well- being. The following techniques are guidelines to help you get the feel and sound of the high, medium and low register overtones. Once you are familiar with the sounds and comfortable in creating the overtones, you will discover your own techniques and unique sounds to explore. Remember to keep your vocal cords relaxed, because that's when the overtones will emerge!

1. High register: the harmonics sound similar to high whistling. Put the tip of your tongue behind the upper front teeth, and smile. Make small movements with the lips and tongue to get the overtones vibrating. Chant "y-e-a-r": Listen especially during the transition between the "y" to "ee" sound, and then from "ee" to "rr" sounds. Repeat.

2. Mid register: the harmonics sound like ethereal flutes. Chant "o-h-h" with lips slightly round and tongue flat on bottom of mouth and slightly pulled towards back of throat. Visualize an orange expanding the space in the mouth. Listen to the changes in harmonics. Repeat. Experiment with volume.

3. Low register: The harmonics sound guttural - like low notes of a flute or like someone blowing sideways on the opening of a bottle. Chant "y-ou-u", as you relax the throat and open up the back of the throat and nasal passages. Create a cavity in the mouth (visualize the orange) and push air out through the mouth and nasal passage. This takes a bit of practice.

4. Sound of motor: With lips closed (no air going through), make the sound of a motor (kind of like a sawing sound) high in the nasal cavities. When you get this sound, try opening the mouth to add overtones from the expanded space.

With time and practice you will learn to hear and sound out a wide range of harmonics. You will then be able to create your own unique combinations of overtones that will help you towards a greater sense of well-being and balance.

The author chairs LifeFlow and Produce Green Foundation. Email him at Simon@Simonchau.hk.

(HK Edition 07/10/2010 page4)