Mongolian national music Morin Khuur

         Even though he/she feels completely unfamiliar to the grassland and no matter how much difficulty he/she has in communication with the aboriginals, a foreigner would be assured as long as he/she listens to the pastoral song accompanied by Morin-huur. He/she would get confidence and spiritual power from the melodious voice of the song and Morin-huur.

           Mongolian grassland is known as the grassland of music, which absorbs the spirit of the people in itself. And as the highlight of the grassland music, Morin-huur, an enchanting art, is a precious treasurer created by the grassland people during the long years of history.

Mongolian people have a deep love for music. According to a modern local records New Local records of Mongolian and Tibetan, "Musical instruments of Mongolian people include bow fiddle, reed flute, big drum with single stick. It is very common that three or five persons gather together, singing loudly and happily-." Without music, it would be like grassland without flower. Without Morin-huur, it would be like a felt ger without milk tea. Nomadic music is an important part of the grassland culture.

           "Morin-huur" means "horse fiddle" in English. Mongolian people love Morin-huur in the same way they love their horse. The melodious voice of Morin-huur not only expresses the herdsmen's heart feeling, but also has extraordinary power in the herdsmen's eyes. For instance, when the cattle suffer from disease, singers, playing Morin-huur, sing old heroic epic for them, hoping drive out evil spirits. This not only bears out the lofty status of Morin-huur in the herdsmen's eyes, but also furnish evidence for the saying that morin-huur is made after matar. It is the voice of auspiciousness as well as the symbol of the power to exorcize evil. It is called "the treasure of the grassland as well as the companion of the herdsmen".

           According to Mongolian custom, a ceremony should be held when a new piece of Morin-huur is made: putting it, covered with hadag, in the center of the table, a respected player uncovers the hadag and smears the Morin-huur with butter, after which he makes a bow and holds up a full silver cup of milk wine, reciting poem to pray God to bestow charming voice on that Morin-huur.