Music is an important part of Mongolian culture. Mongolia has contributed special types of music to the world, including long songs, overtone singing, and the morin khuur, which is a horse-headed fiddle. The music of Mongolia also includes many types that reflect the traditions of different ethnic groups in the country, such as the Oirats, Hotogoid, Tuvans, Darhad, Buryats, Tsaatan, Dariganga, Uzemchins, Barga, Kazakhs, and Khalha.
In addition to traditional music, Western classical music and ballet became popular during the Mongolian People's Republic. Today, modern music in Mongolia includes Western pop and rock styles, as well as mass songs. These mass songs are written by modern composers and follow the style of traditional folk songs.
Traditional music
Overtone singing, also called höömij (throat singing), is a musical technique used in Central Asia. This method is often compared to playing an instrument. It uses special breathing techniques to create two sounds at the same time: one is a whistling sound, and the other is a deep, continuous bass. These sounds are produced by controlling the breath in the chest.
In Mongolia, well-known throat singers include Khalkha singers such as Gereltsogt and Sundui. Khalkha singers have developed several styles of Mongolian lyrical xöömei, while kharkhiraa is a separate technique.
Styles of xöömei include:
– Uyangiin xöömii (melodic or lyrical xöömii)
– Uruulyn xöömii (labial xöömii)
– Tagnain xöömii (palatal xöömii)
– Xamryn xöömii (nasal xöömii)
– BagaIzuuryn, xooloin xöömii (glottal, throat xöömii)
– Tseejiin xondiin, xeviiin xöömii (chest cavity, stomach xöömii)
– Türlegt or xosmoljin xöömii (xöömii combined with long song)
"Long songs" (Urtyin duu) are a major type of Mongolian music. When Genghis Khan united Mongolia in the 13th century, many tribes came together, allowing different musical traditions to mix. Songs like "Ertnii Saikhan" and "Oyunt Khuu" were popular at weddings and important gatherings. Long songs are known for stretching each word in the lyrics for a long time. For example, a four-minute song might only use ten words. Other features include a slow rhythm, wide musical intervals, and no fixed beat. Singers who can hold notes longer and produce richer sounds are highly admired. The themes of the songs vary and may include philosophy, religion, love, or celebration. Horses are often used as symbols or repeated themes. Eastern Mongols usually play the morin khuur (horse-head fiddle) or the limbe (a type of flute) to accompany long songs. Western Mongols, such as the Oirat groups, often sing long songs without instruments or with the igil (a stringed instrument).
In Inner Mongolia, China, 15 written chapters of court music from the last Mongolian Great Khan, Ligdan (1588–1634), were found near the ruins of his palace, Chagan Haote. It is known that the Qing Dynasty in China valued Mongolian court music and included it in important royal ceremonies, especially during feasts.
Modern popular music
In Mongolia, there is a growing music scene in Ulaanbaatar. This scene includes many types of music, such as pop, R&B, EDM, rock, reggae, hip hop, and alternative (which includes alternative rock and heavy metal).
The pop, R&B, and EDM music scene has many solo artists, including Ariunaa, Altantsetseg (a.k.a. Altaa), Ankhmaa, Bayartsetseg, Bold, BX, B.Azzaya, Chuluunchimeg, Delgermörön, Erdenechimeg, Erdenetsetseg, Gangaa, Hishigdalai, Jargalsaikhan.D, Khaliun, Maraljingoo, Michelle, Onon, Sarantuya (a.k.a. Saraa), Serchmaa, Uka, Zaya, and others. There are also mixed-gender groups like Classic Gem, boy bands such as Camerton, Nomin Talst, and Motive, and girl groups like 3 Ohin, Anemone, Extacy, Foux, Gala, HoneyMoon, Kiwi, Lipstick, Sound of Kiss, SweetYmotion, and The Wasabies. EDM musicians include Odonbat & MO (Munkh-Orgil) and others. Some younger Mongolian artists, like Nominjin (who sings in eight languages), Enguun (winner of season 1 of The Voice of Mongolia), and Amarkhuu Borkhuu (a Russian pop star), are gaining international recognition.
The alternative music scene includes bands like A-sound, Magnolian, Nisvanis, Night train, Otgoo, and The Lemons. The rock scene includes groups like Pilots and Soyol Erdene (rock-n-roll), Altan Urag, Jonon, The HU, and Khusugtun (folk rock), as well as hard rock bands like Chinggis Khaan, Growl of Clown, Haranga, Hurd, and Niciton. Reggae singers include JiiJah, Macho, and RatAbuZz, and techno bands include Khar Sarnai and Khar Tas (techno-rap).
Mongolian lyricists include Ryenchinii Choinom, a poet from the socialist period whose love songs and hip-hop compositions are now popular. Hip-hop has become popular in Mongolia since the 1990s, when teenagers formed dance groups that competed in tournaments. Single rappers were not common in this scene, but Battulga Munkhbayar (a.k.a. The Yellow Eminem and 50 öre), a Mongolian-Swedish rapper, gained fame in Sweden for his unique style. He was arrested in Bangkok in 2019 for stealing a tourist’s wallet.
Early hip-hop bands include Khar Tas and Khar Sarnai, who focused on social issues, philosophy, and rebellious ideas. Later groups and artists, such as 2 Khüü, Dain ba Enkh, Ice Top, Lumino, MCIT, 4 Züg, B.A.T, Big Gee (a.k.a. Gee), Click Click Boom, Digital, Enkhtaivan, Epoch, Erkh-Chölöö, Gangsta Service, Metune, Mon-Ta-Rap, NC, Aka Odko, PacRap, Quiza, Rokit Bay, Seryoja, Tatar, Tempo, ThunderZ, Tsetse, URMC, Vainquish, Vande, XL, Young Mo'G, and female rappers like Gennie, Hulan, Mvchi, Babynna, and N.M.N, continued these themes but added more "soft" elements to their music.
There is also a distinct "Mongolian pop" genre, similar to Japanese Enka music or Western soft-pop and folk music. Classic singers from the late 20th and early 21st centuries include Vandan, Dulamsüren, Batsükh, Tömörkhuyag, and Egschiglen. Common themes in Mongolian music include heartfelt songs about mothers and praise for great horses.
Mongolian folk music, known as Zohioliin Duu (Зохиoлын Дyy), is a type of song with three four-line stanzas and a repeating line. The lyrics often use alliteration, where words share the same starting letters or syllables. This music was once unavailable outside Mongolia but can now be found on Mongolian websites.
Classical music
Mongolia has a strong tradition of classical music and ballet. During the second half of the 20th century, the government supported classical music and ballet, especially those from Western and Russian/Soviet traditions, rather than Western pop music. Mongolian composers created many different types of symphonies and ballets that reflect their nation's culture.
Musical Instruments
The horse-head fiddle, or morin khuur, is a unique Mongolian instrument and is considered a symbol of the country. The instrument has two strings. There is debate about the traditional carving of a horse on the top of the pegbox. Some scholars think this shows the instrument was originally used in shamanistic practices. Shaman staffs also have horses carved on top, and horses are highly respected in Mongolian culture.
Other instruments in Mongolian traditional music include the shudraga or shanz (a three-stringed, long-necked, strummed lute similar to the Chinese sanxian or Japanese shamisen), khuuchir (a bowed spike-fiddle), yatga (a plucked zither related to the Kazakh Jetigen), everburee (a folk oboe), khel khuur (Jew's harp), tobshuur (a plucked lute similar to the dombra), ikh khuur (bass morin khuur), and bishhuur (a pipe similar in sound to a clarinet).