[wind blowing]
Mongolian traditional art of Khöömei is one
of Mongolia's great and invaluable
contributions to the world cultural
heritage. This type of unique music art
has been developed in the Altai
mountains area, especially in Mongolia
with its own unique characteristics. The
history of Mongolian Khöömei art dates back
to hundreds of years. The popularity of
Khöömei among the Mongolians has a rising
as a result of close interaction between
natural environment and human culture.
The animistic worldview of the
Mongolians identifies the spirituality
of objects in nature not just in their
shape or location but in their sound and
melody as well. The open landscape of
Mongolia allows sounds to embrace a
great distance. Thus, human mimicry and
imitation of sounds of animals, wind, and
water is seen as the route of Khöömei.
Mongolian nomads have developed these
mysterious sounds of nature, environment
and nomadic lifestyle a special genre of
music for expressing their emotion,
happiness, and labor motivation.
[throat singing and music]
[speaking in Mongolian]
[throat singing]
Do not doubt when one tells you that I
speak to the mountain, water, and grass. It
is because beautiful nature is a great
composer itself and transmits its own
creation to human beings through gifted
performers.
[Mongolian throat singing]
The exact origin of the Khöömei
art is unknown. But researchers
suppose that it could have been
developed in connection with specific
epic telling work of technique shamanic
calling and the play of the wooden soul
flute. Khöömei is a generic tone
defining the whole local practice of the
single person who voluntarily and
simultaneously overlays several sounds
but mainly two sounds with his voice.
It is a melody of harmonics Sanibel
fundamental tone called drone. In
Mongolia the song style has been
practiced exclusively by man until
recently. However, women have now been
practicing it for about two generations.
A multitude of techniques can be found
in Mongolia and they are grooved within
two main styles: the kharkhiraa Khöömei, or deep
Khöömei, and isgeree Khöömei, or whistle
Khöömei. The wonder of the Khöömei art is its
simultaneous melodious overtone. In this
way, the Khöömei is a phenomenon which
differentiates from all our traditional
arts based on human vocal organs. This is
The reason of calling the Khöömei
performer as human music or [mongolian],
which highlights its specificity from
a normal singer.
The Mongolians use the human vocal
organs to the high degree of level and
develop the Khöömei as a unique musical
art the views of Khöömei art are making
much efforts for the development of the
traditional apprenticeship training.
This has a good role for safeguarding
and promoting Khöömei art and for its
transmission to young generations.
[speaking in Mongolian]
[Throat singing]
[speaking in Mongolian]
[Throat singing]
[Speaking in Mongolian]
[Throat singing]
[Speaking in Mongolian]
[Throat Singing]
[Speaking in Mongolian]
[Throat singing]
[Speaking in Mongolian]
[Throat singing]
Mongolian traditional art
of Khöömei is originated from after
ethnic groups of Mongolia and its
authenticity and uniqueness have been
retained in the western part of Mongolia
until now. Also it is being successfully
developed in the other parts of Mongolia.
As an art form created and developed by
the Mongolians, Turanians, and other
ethnic groups and regarded as the
classic art of nomadic civilization.
Khöömei is one of the core performing arts
that shaped the Mongolian national arts
in today's Mongolia. Thus, it shows great
influence and ensuring the visibility
and enhancement of the living art of
Mongolia. Khöömei is born by a variety of
ethnic groups as a [multiple Mongolian Groups]
different locations in Mongolia so there
are a number of sub classifications of
Khöömei style reflecting
the special features in local flavors.
This diversity is what constitutes the
richness of Khöömei composition and thus
each community's concerned are proud of
their own unique styles and techniques
while expressing themselves with such
diversity and uniqueness.
[Speaking in Mongolian]
[Throat singing]
[Speaking in Mongolian]
[Playing instrument and throat singing]
Inscription of the mongolian
traditional art Khöömei under a
representative list of the intangible
cultural heritage of humanity will make
a great contribution for the
safeguarding of this Falk heritage which
reflects exceptional talent of human
creating music and close interaction
with nature. As one of the mainspring
heritage elements expressing the national
identity of the Mongolians, the Khöömei tradition
and its emerging tendencies contribute
promoting cultural diversity, while
manifesting human creativity and
capability.
[Throat singing continues]