Although Mongols are racially similar to Koreans, their folk music is vastly different, due to the difference in history and environment. Surprisingly, the Mongols do not have a wide range of folk songs. This may be because nomads do not often get the chance to hold gatherings, except on special occasions such as weddings. The only song that they do sing at events such as weddings is the urtyn duu, which means ‘long song’. The lyrics of urtyn duu sing of vast grasslands, blue skies, horses roaming grasslands, and nostalgia for the hometown and family that they have left behind. Although the Mongols do not have many songs, they do have an interesting repertoire of sounds to call their livestock, to coax animals, and to herd cattle. These sounds exist in a pre-song stage and symbolize the coexistence of man and beast in the grasslands of Mongolia. Mongolian music contains many sounds that resemble the wind blowing in the grassland. This can be found in the overtone singing technique of khoomii that produces whistling sounds in the throat and the tsuur flute played with deliberate wind noises. An instrument called huur played by the Tsaatan tribe who raise reindeer by Khuvsgul Lake also produces the sound of wind. Mongolian music also contains the epic genre. These epics are accompanied by simple two-stringed instruments and usually discuss the greatness of nature as a theme.

Аудио

9

Улс

Монгол