I don't mean to rebel against the idea that music can be unifying. But it can be just as diverse as regular language! It unites us, not because we all understand or enjoy it in the same way, but by helping us celebrate the beauty of our differences. It is a window into another culture. Today's window looks in on Mongolia and the rich musical heritage found there. There’s nothing quite like experiencing the music for yourself, so here are some instructions to get the most out of this post:
This veneration for the land and the animals, especially horses, of the countryside is also expressed in the traditional instruments of Mongolia. The moorin huur (horsehead fiddle) is the bowed instrument played by the two musicians on the left in this video. In addition to the beautifully carved scroll in the shape of a horse’s head, the strings and the bow are made from horse tail hair. The instrument is meant to sound a bit like a horse as well (there is a clear example of this in one of the links below). The energy of this song, completely different from the Urtiin Duu, races along with the galloping horses stolen by the Robin Hood-like Toroi Bandi, a great hero of Mongolian tradition. Heroes, horses, and the land are common topics for Mongolian songs.
