Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Clark Studio Theater

Mongolia: Concert

Long singing (urtyn duu), solo Narantuya
Epic song (tuul') and four-stringed fiddle (dörvöon tchikhtei khuur),
Overtone singing (khöömii), two-stringed lute with a scroll carved like a horse's head (morin khuur), and two-stringed pinched lute with a scroll carved like a swan's head (tobshuur) Odsuren
Overtone singing (khöömii) and two-stringed lute with a scroll carved like a horse's head (morin khuur) Zagd-Otchir
Overtone singing (khöömii) and two-stringed pinched lute with a scroll carved like a swan's head (tobshuur) Lkhagva
Vertical flute (tsuur) Naranbat

Dance (biyelgee) Chuluunbaatar, Zinamyetr
Accompaniment on a two-stringed lute (khuur) Buuveibaatar

Singing
Epic song (tuul')
In Central Asia, Mongolia remains one of the countries where the ritual of performance of the heroic epic is still very strong. The tradition dates from earliest antiquity. The number of epic singers has decreased dramatically. The decline is attributed to the fact that epics are considered to be reminiscent of the warrior aristocracy culture and feudal society. The bard could be seen as subversive and therefore was silenced during the revolutionary period.

Spread through the oral tradition, epics are intended to be performed in front of an audience, not read. Written epics cannot be considered as epic art works. The content of the story, the dramatic arc, the magical dimension, and the appropriation by the bard, who uses all his vocal resources, are major components of the art of epic singing.

About the Artists
Burenbayar
The youngest child of five, Burenbayar was born into a family of livestock farmers and amateur musicians in Inner Mongolia. While tending animals on the steppes, Burenbayar memorized numerous epic poems, totaling more than 500 hours of repertory. Although only 33 years old, he is considered to be a cultural treasure and has received many prizes for his recitations, including delivery of The Secret History of the Mongols.

Narantuya
Narantuya was born into a family of amateur musicians and began singing at age five before continuing her studies at a music conservatory. In 1997 the 28-year-old singer became the last pupil of Namjilyn Norovbanzad, known as the 20th century's greatest interpreter of Mongolian long song.

Odsuren
For more than 35 years, Odsuren has studied overtone singing and epic poems, particularly those of the western provinces of Hovd and Uvs. Today he teaches overtone singing at the Mongolian University of Arts and Culture.

Zagd-Otchir
Zagd-Otchir is from Ulaanbaatar and first discovered music through his father, a flutist in the army's symphony orchestra. He learned to play the morin khurr at the conservatory and then studied overtone singing and sacred music with Odsuren at the National University of Mongolia.

Lkhagva
Born in 1965, Lkhagva is a livestock farmer who lives close to Ulaangom, the regional capital of Uvs. As a teenager in Altay, he learned overtone singing and sacred music from an elder farmer while tending livestock on the steppes. Today Lkhagva teaches music to children at a cultural center in Ulaangom.

Naranbat
Naranbat is from a distinguished family of musicians. He grew up near the capital of Hovd Province. and currently studies at the Mongolian University of Arts and Culture in Ulaanbaatar.

Chuluunbaatar
A resident of Ulaangom, Chuluunbaatar is from a family of musicians and dancers. Along with his brothers and sisters, he has dedicated his life to preserving Mongolian traditions, including indigenous biyelgee dance.

Zinamyetr
Currently living on the outskirts of Tarialan, Zinamyetr makes his living as a livestock farmer. After learning dance from his father, he began a creative partnership with Buuveibaatar that has lasted for decades.

Buuveibaatar
Born in 1964, Buuveibaatar is a farmer who learned to play the fiddle in order to accompany dancers. Forming a duo with Zinamyetr, they have won several awards in interregional competitions.

Video Production for StayTunedTV.com by Kuri Productions Inc. in association with Elixir Entertainment Inc.

Directed and Edited by John A Kuri