Johanni Curtet

Johanni Curtet is a french composer, musician, throat-singer, ethnomusicologist and producer. He learnt classical guitar at the Conservatory of Rennes. Following this, he turned into the musical practices of orality, influencing his play from Asia and Africa. First initiated by Tran Quang Hai, he learnt khöömii from Tserendavaa Dashdorj in the mountainous steppes of the Altai and then Odsuren Baatar at the University of Arts and Culture in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. The African influence in his music comes from his long stay in Cameroon. This crossroad of culture he experienced is synthesized in the compositions of his trio Meïkhâneh. He has played with Tserendavaa & Tsogtgerel, Urbi&Orbi by Pierrick Lefranc, the Electric Opera "Èves futures" by Alain Basso, with Ensemble 9 by Pierre Redon, or "Katajjaq and Khöömii, Chorus Nunavik / Mongolia" by Katia Makdissi-Warren for the First Peoples Festival in Montreal, and Tuvan throat-singer Batsükh Dorj. He composed the original movie soundtrack for "If Only I Could Hibernate" by Zoljargal Purvedash, performing himself beat-box throat-singing, guitar, mouth harps, with guest performers Kham Meslien (doublebass) and Mandakhjargal Daansuren (morin khuur and throat-singing). Johanni teaches throat-singing in educational institutions in France and abroad. He is a part time lecturer in ethnomusicology at the University of Rennes 2. Since 2006, he is the founder and artistic director of the french-mongolian NGO ROUTES NOMADES.