Musical Trip to Mongolia
Musical Trip to Mongolia
My love and appreciation for Mongolian music has only developed
within the last few years, but artists such as The Hu and Batzorig
Vaanching have helped illuminate this type of music making it one of my
favorite genres. The way the traditional
instruments are played and the unique style of throat singing used creates an
amazing music style used to tell stories/legends, provide traditional ambiance
to celebrations, and help keep the traditional Mongolian spirit alive.
Traditional Mongolian music is based on the nomadic
lifestyle of the tribes and the surrounding lands. They would sing songs about the horses they
used for work and war, sing about a mother giving birth to a new life, and sing
about the steppes and mountains of their land.
They would sing these songs using instruments such as the Morin Khuur,
the Tovshuur, and flutes. The technique
used to sing these songs is called Hoomii or Khoomii, which is throat
singing. This overtone singing involves
breathing in certain ways to create two distinct pitches simultaneously. One being a whistle-like sound and the other
being a drone-based sound. Now the main
style these songs were sung in is called “Long Song.” This is where a three to four-minute song may
only have 30 words or less, but the syllables of these words are stretched out
for a longer duration. This results in a
slower tempo, wider intervals, and a much richer timbre.
Here is an example of traditional Mongolian music. This musician is playing the Morin Khuur and
is singing a song in praise of Genghis Khan.
This song is just under four minutes long and is sung in the “Long Song”
format. His intro begins with playing
the Morin Khuur and setting the stage for the song. As he starts singing, you can hear the dual-pitch
throat singing style, Hoomii/Khoomii, while dragging out the syllables matching
the “Long Song” style. His drone is
constant throughout the lyrics giving it a very rich timbre. In the Mongolian music world when singing in
the Hoomii/Khoomii style the longer hold the singer does, the more respected
they are. Thus, we can assume this performer
is very well respected in his community.
Another aspect of this song is its slow tempo. This allows the song to be played more as a
musical poem, thus giving Genghis Khan the respect that is deserved for what he
did for the Mongol people.
This example of traditional Mongolian music is verging on the
newer/modern side, but the artists still pride themselves on sticking to the
traditional Mongol ways. The Hu formed in
2016 and take pride in making music that is still rooted in the traditions of their
homeland. This song is based on a poem from
Prince Tsogt Taij during the 1500s. This
prince is a descendant of Genghis Khan and describes how the Mongol people will
defend their homeland from foreign invaders.
This was the original inspiration for the song Wolf Totem, the
way that Genghis Khan defended the Mongol Empire. Not only does this band put traditional and
historical aspects in their lyrics, but also in the instruments they play. They use the same instruments that their
ancestors used. The Morin Khuur (Horse
Head Fiddle), the Jaw Harp, the Tsuur, the flute, the drums, and the Tovshuur. Using these traditional instruments and
lyrics rooted in homeland traditions, The Hu is a great example of
traditional/folk Mongolian music.
Now musically, I think this song is pretty unique. The intro to the song starts with the Morin Khuur playing some subtle low notes and the cry of a falcon, almost as if they are setting the scene of an ancient battlefield. As the song continues the drums and the Morin Khuur start to pick up until they reach the song's slow to moderate tempo. Now as the lyrics come into play, you can hear that traditional Hoomii/Khoomii overtone singing. The lead singer has a constant low drone, almost like a growl, while singing the lyrics in a higher pitch. This effect is what makes traditional Mongol music stand out and gives it its unique style. Since this song was based on warfare, the rest of the band comes in and chants offset from the main lyrics. This effect gives the song the sense of war that the band based the song on. Another aspect of this song is the rich timbre that comes naturally with the Hoomii/Khoomii singing style. But an additional type of timbre this has is gritty/rugged due to the lead singer's growl-like drone voice and the battle chanting in the background.
In conclusion, traditional Mongolian music will always be
around due to the Mongol people who want to stay rooted in the homeland and never
forget its history. The traditional
instruments will always have their place in music as well as the Hoomii/Khoomii
throat singing style. Thanks to The Hu
and Batzorig Vaanching I have found a love and appreciation for
traditional Mongolian music and I’m sure they will help others find a love and
appreciation for it too.
Work Cited
“About.” The HU, www.thehuofficial.com/about-1.
Accessed 26 Oct. 2024.
You did a great job of presenting Mongolian music. I love how the Morin Khuur and the Hoomii/Khoomii overtone work together to really bring out their history in music. The drone and the melodies used are unique compared to what is popular in the U.S. Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteYour exploration of Mongolian music is so rich and well-articulated! I love how you described the unique timbre of the Hoomii/Khoomii throat singing and the role of instruments like the Morin Khuur, which really emphasizes the powerful storytelling of Mongolian culture. I agree with your appreciation for how artists like The Hu and Batzorig Vaanching keep these traditions alive in a modern way. It might be interesting to explore other musical elements, like how dynamics vary in "Wolf Totem" to create an intense atmosphere, adding depth to the story of defending the homeland. Great work!
ReplyDeleteJarrod, I really enjoyed reading your analysis on the music of Mongolia. I think it's so cool that this is music that you enjoy and that you have enjoyed for years. One of my favorite things about this music style is the throat singing-it's insane to me just what the vocal cords can accomplish. I liked listening to your two musical selections and they made me curious about what would traditional female throat singers sound like. I know that the higher the voice, the more of a disadvantage the person has with becoming a proficient throat singer, but I found this whole compilation of female throat singers and it's so crazy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhSEKxQjOpY The woman from Mongolia specifically is featured at :43 seconds.
ReplyDeleteThanks for introducing me to this music!