On the 27 of September a group of 5 persons departed to Viliuisky region. The group consisted of Diego Pascal Panarello – the director, producer, author of the project film “From Sicily to Yakutia: Way to Rhapsody” (Italy), Frederique Veisse – the assistant, helper of the director (France), Alekseev Pavel Pavlovich – Erkin Abagan – the head of the informatization and design department of the Museum and Centre of Khomus of the World’s Peoples, Levina Lilia Alekseevna – senior researcher and translator of the Museum and Centre of Khomus of the World’s Peoples and the author of these lines, me – Shishigin Nikolai Spiridonovich, Ispien Uola – director of the Museum and Centre of Khomus of the World’s Peoples. On the minibus provided by the municipal region “Viliuisky region” with a very energetic Evseev Gavriil Stepanovich, by the way, very similar in his temperament to our Italian friend, in spite of a bad road, our group successfully got to Viliuisk. We were cordially met by a family of Semionov Aleksey Hikolaevich, veteran labor and sport, very respected person, and, of course, by our old friend Avgusta Platonovna Evseeva, a bright representative of tireless khomus propagandists not only in Viliuisky region, but in all Yakutia.

Next day in the morning we were met by the first assistant of the Head of the region Lukin Vasiliy Timofeevich, that nicely surprised our guests with his knowledge about traditions, culture of far Italy, showed his interest about the film, which is being shooted by Diego Pascal Panarello, wished all the best in the work of our group and gave some presents from the name of the inhabitants and public of the region. After, accompanied with our curator Matriona Titovna Ivanova – manager of the regional administration of culture, we went to Arylakhsky region to Khampa village. In the building of Culture House we were met by khomusists of the public unification “Dalbar” (leader Chirkova Anna Dmitrievna) with Yakutian oladiy and kumys. The assistant of the Head of the region told us in short about the region – we spoke about the aim, plans of the group, expressed our wishes. On the meeting there were Osipov Peter Fedotovich – Tolon Uus, Kolodeznikov Ivan Kononovich – Urung Uus: khomus making masters of Sakha people of the international level. Diego Panarello with his assistant Frederique chose an optimal place for shooting and the shooting of khomusists started. In the hall of Culture House there was an exhibition of activity of many khomusists’ generations of Khampa, results, achievements, rewards of active public-spirited persons. It was quite visible that people are proud of their region and achievements. It is a wonderful thing to understand that in socio-economic development of the region khomus plays an important role.

After two-hour shooting of charming women khomusists and communicating with them, being already in a rank of almost universally known star, small children’s guy of Arylakhsky region, accompanied with his confederates and, probably, fans of the Sicilian Marranzano, despite of the proposed car, Diego went to school on feet to shoot khomus lesson. During the lesson young girls knomus players demonstrated their knowledge, methods of playing with Sakha khomus, and our Diego told some words about Marranzano, demonstrating sounds of it. After the lesson, in a hall of the wonderful school, not less wonderful Diego created a “miracle” changing in size during photo sessions, held by organizators. Surprisingly reducing his size to the size of a third-grader child, he became as tall as two-metered senior students, so making everyone being absolutely admired by him. Being in rays of glory of our friend, without paying attention to awful roads, we in a car of Urung Uus, arrived at the master’s house. The housemaid, daughter of a well-known master Elliasin Zakhar Kharitonovich Galina Zakharovna invited us to a rich in delicatessens table, where Italian, or more correctly Sicilian director, really amazingly nice in a conversation person, confessed that he feels as a son of some very rich man, or at least as Tom Cruz. So sincerely, with such attention to his humble personality no one met him so cordially, but when Ivan Kononovich said that he decided to present him a khomus, Diego was hardly able not to lose his consciousness because of being so happy… After a lunch, in a laboratory, having taken his precious gift from the hands of the amazing master and having played with it for a while, our Italian friend agreed that that day he found something that he was unconsciously looking for all his life long – his friend, his life’s concomitant. The master completed a box of the instrument made from birch roots. Having left the varnished box we went by the car to a laboratory of well-known master Pavlov Timofey Dmitrievich – Tumee Uus. His student, son of the master – Pavlov Ivan Timofeevich – Utum Uus with his brother told about their father’s creation, demonstrated the khomus making, the way their father taught them. Seeing, the way the brothers work, respecting the memory of their father (because instruments made by him lay in the order he left them!) you, to your surprise, feel the presence, the spiritual proximity of them with their old master – like he is somewhere nearby – with his sons. And this is the happiness! After the laboratory there was not less interesting meeting with a very solid person of today – Tolon Uus. His real name is Osipov Peter Fedotovich, master of khomus making of the international level, student of Kylyadjy Uus – Zakharov Ivan Fiodorovich and Maltcev Kirill Kirillovich – the oldest master of khomus making in the world. As an active person Peter Fedotovich has a great number of honorary titles, regalias, but one thing is to be the most special one: on the example of Osipov P.F. we can follow the self-development and formation of the bright personality. It is he who keeps the family be united! People might say about such persons like: “… If to make tacks from such people, they would be the strongest tacks in the world!” The master showed a process of feeding the fire spirit, demonstrated the way of repairing a tongue of a khomus, an exhibition of his activity, some results of his work. But the most wonderful moments were further: joint performances of Italian-Yakutian khomusists! The possessor of an amazing khomus Diego did his best with his Yakutian friends but the “control shot” was our’s (Yakutia rules!): Pavel Alekseev – Erkin Abagan virtuously “put” the finish accord in the joint performance. Happy and devastated Diego said: “this is the best family in the world – I want to stay here forever!” When we were going to leave the family world of khomus with it’s hospitable hosts, we were seen off with tears in their eyes, and we arrived to the house of Urung Uus only at night. Having left three members of our team in another place (not less wonderful), we got to Urung Uus and already after an hour we were sleeping. This is the end of one of the most unforgettable days in my life, and I want to say for it – MAKHTAL!

In the morning of the 29 September we came back to Viliuisk. Almost all the road long we were recalling our friends of Khampa village, joking with each other, and Diego from time to time glanced at his khomus which was hanged on his breast, smiling he murmured: “I’m Sakha!” In Viliuisk we were met by a group of people which leader was Ivanova Nadezhda Nikolaevna – our good friend, who, being a head of the Culture Administration of “Khangalassky region” made a big work of developing khomus music in her region. The group also consisted of Maltcev Mikhail Nikolaevich – Kylaan Uus, master of khomus making of the international level, Vasiliev Stepan Stepanovich — master of khomus making, our very respected employee Evseeva Avgusta Platonovna. We went down to the bank of the river Viluy, where Ivanova N.N. made a rite of worship to the river’s spirit. After it we went to the Khomus House named after I.F. Zakharov – Kylyadjy Uus, came to know about the museum’s exposition, gave an interview to the local television. It was visible that our museum employees prepared to the meeting in details, tried to tell deeply about the exposition material. We want to say sorry for hurrying and inattention, as we did not have enough time: before the mainest shooting of that day was to be held: mass play of khomus, we had to visit house of Zakharov Ivan Fiodorovich – Kylyadjy Uus, to meet with the relatives of the well-known master, also with public organizations of Viliuisk and to have a lunch. In the house of Zakharov I.F. we were met by a son and a grandson of the master that demonstrated their musical play on the instrument. Nikolaev Vasiliy Nikolaevich, master of khomus making, son of Ivan Fiodorovich showed a khomus, made by his father and results of his own work, copied from his father’s ones. Traditions are continued and this is our power. Power of will, power of spirit! (almost like in a song). We traveled in the region, in the town Viliuisk always changing our transport and thanks very much to the drivers and to our guardian angel Matriona Titovna for that our innumerous stuff was not lost: bags, boots, umbrellas, technique, rucksacks and of course a gift from Utum Uus – Viliuy crucians! For having a lunch we went to Dalbar Khotun Petrova Efrosinia Dmitrievna – algyschyt, national master, ethnographer, poet, member of the republic’s writer’s Union. With pleasure we see that there were familiar faces in the group that met us. Having opened the door we fell into the world of another spirituality – it was the way we were met by the amazing women from Viliuiskiy region – our Yakutian ladies! The housemaid held a rite of blessing. In the balagan the author of the lines set on the most honorable place and for a moment I felt perhaps the same feelings as Diego during the “star illness” in Khampa village. In front of me is a table full of dishes and the most famous, majestic women of Viliuisky region suggest the most delicious dishes of the traditional Sakha cuisine, somewhere nearby are Diego, Frederique… I am sorry for my weakness, Natalia Romanovna, but if not you, my family, I would stay in this marvelous world of our ancestors forever! I was brought into the reality by Diego’s words of kumys refusal! Having come back to the regalement reality, I found that we have only 30 minutes before the shooting starts. And there are such dishes to be tasted, such interlocutors to talk with! But even with such short time we managed many things: ate a lot, came to know interesting information about the women’s activity in the region and that Diego is single and 34 years old, Frederique – 100% Parisian, very beautiful woman, but can not cook, though wants to stay in Yakutia if she finds her husband here. Sakha boys are you here???

At 14:45 we arrived at the shooting place and found that our Avgusta with a help of a microphone already manages with the khomusists that filled Mother’s public garden. But in Diego’s idea he should be there right before the khomusists come and shoot people gathering there. No one was expected to look at the camera and at him. No microphones or other techniques. For these conditions of Diego we said before: it will be for sure! But that moment Diego was in panic, Frederique’s face did not even make any jerk, and only with a help of quick measures of our Viliuy employees, friends and all participants of this mass event we did everything as Diego wanted: khomusists left the public garden, the microphones were taken away. And then, professionals of their work Diego and Frederique started shooting… How proud I was, how warmly I thanked the inhabitants, being behind Diego’s back (it was one of the director’s conditions): they are, like venerable actors, did all the things our friends expected from them. How leisurely walked they in the streets of ancient Viliuisk, flowing down like one human stream to the bank of the river. Without shouts or microphones they found their places, played with their instruments, organized a big khomus. And this was done during almost 2 hours, most of them in thin clothes, did not pay any attention to cold, like it was a summer day, but not the end of September. Big MAKHTAL for that! Meanwhile Diego became almost a Hollywood director: urgently asked for a car, climbed on it and being upper started shooting people that stood under in the form of khomus playing with the amazing instrument. At some moment he even looked like a leader of the world proletariat, a leader that was standing on an armored car. Only very thick curling hair, a tan that covered a half of his face, a camera on his shoulder made one think: isn’t he a leader of Parisian Commune, calling Viliuisk inhabitants for the last one, decisive?.. Even after the shooting was over the inhabitants did not want to leave Diego and the opposite – he did not want them to go. And when our friend showed some Italian gestures, said: “Super! Perfecto!”, we, not less happy, understood that the shooting was absolutely wonderful. This day there were also shooting around the town, meeting with Maltcev M.N., Chemchoev R.G., but the most important event of the day was the mass play of khomus, where more than 100 people took part, which was a great achievement of our friend! Enormously happy Diego Pascal Panarello, probably even in his dream, managed the khomusists on the bank of old Viliuy…

On the 30 of September at 10 o’clock in the morning shooting in the laboratory of Chomchoo Uus started. The famous master even at that time did well: very calmly, firmly worked for 4 hours of shooting, without getting even a little reprimand from Diego. Even when Frederique – a beautiful French woman pronounced at the beginning of the meeting in the pure Yakutian language: “Min eigin taptyybyn!” (I love you) – (the result of two hour lesson), not a muscle jerked on the master’s face, but the answer was given immediately: “Min eigin emie” (Me too). But when Frederick repeated the phrase to Gogolev N.I. — Bychaa Uus, our master did not lose his bearings – his reaction was instantaneous: a chocolate in Fredericks hands emerged! Shooting was held in a professional way. After a lunch there was a shooting in the town, on nature, in the territory of Khomus House (museum), in Avgusta Platonovna’s house. Everything was perfect! With a shooting of Semionov’s family (Varvara Innokentievna and Aleksey Nikolaevich) we finished our work in Viliuisky region. Aleksey Nikolaevich gave a Yakutian name to Diego – Murun B’uote (Nose Plug), announcing that he wanted to adopt him, and our friend was awfully glad!

I would like say thanks so much everyone! We do not want to thank personally, call the foundings, people etc., because we can easily forget someone or something. We, khomusists, know that our souls are connected with each other with invisible string of spiritual kinship and everyone knows that I thank him personally! We know: one that was, is and will be with khomus, that person is in the World of khomus! And this World is gorgeous!

N.S. Shishigin, director of the Museum and Centre of Khomus of the World’s Peoples.

Translated by Levina Lilia Alekseevna – senior researcher and translator of the Museum and Centre of Khomus of the World’s Peoples.