Чукотско-эскимосский ансамбль песни и танца «Эргырон» (Chukchi-Eskimo song and dance ensemble "Ergyron") is the first and biggest music ensemble representing the Chukchi, an Arctic people living in the most extreme northeastern part of Russia. Ergyron ("dawn"/"sunrise" in the Chukchi language) was founded in 1968 by the government and gave its first concert in 1969. It has toured around Russia, the former Soviet Union, and the rest of the world.
Most of its songs and dances are the traditional music of the Far North, not only of the Chukchi, but also the Eskimos, the Koryaks, the Itelmen, the Aleuts, the Yupiks, the Alutors, the Lamuts, the Chuvans, the Evens, and the Evenks. In recent years, Ergyron has sung about contemporary Chukchi life. It is based out of Anadyr, the capital of Chukotka, but at any time during the year may be on tour somewhere in the world, performing the songs and dances of the Far North....
Their official website is www.ergyron.ru
, which is entirely in Russian, and gives a detailed history of the ensemble, biographies of its members, and a list of scheduled performances.
Albums
- Первая концертная программа 1969 (First Concert Programme 1969)
- Чукотские и эскимосские песни (Chukchi and Eskimo Songs)
- Заклинание о будущем (Future Incantation)
Other productions
- Vylgykoramnat Rite
- Raven Legend (ballet)
- Girl and Death (opera)
- Fairytale about Good and Evil (musical)
Members
Over the years, Ergyron has changed members, though there are usually somewhere under twenty. Here are some of them.
- The late Galina Tagrina wrote several of the lyrical songs, such as "Nunlingran" and "Chukchi Lullaby."
- Vasily Kevkey joined Ergyron in 1986 and is an often-awared singer-songwriter. He has on occasions led Ergyron, and in the ballet "The Blizzard's Daughter" starred as the Shaman.
- Nikolai Tatato joined Ergyron in 1976 and encouraged many young artists to join, but has since retired.
- Tyneny "Nina" Merker is a long-serving singer, dancer, and choreographer.
Tropes
- Braids, Beads and Buckskins: Ergyron perform wearing traditional Chukchi costumes, namely sealskin dresses and furs.
- Grim Up North: Averted Trope. Many of their songs and dances are happy.
- Harsh Vocals: Their throat singing.
- Ominous Latin Chanting: To those unaccustomed to the sound of Chukchi, Ergyron's songs sound very eerie and surreal.
- Title Drop: In "Nunlingran."...Nunligrelyt tipeyn'elyt...
