Egschiglen
Encyclopedia
Egschiglen are a Mongolia
n Folk
band, formed in Ulan Bator in 1991. In English Egschiglen means "Beautiful Melody", and they are one of very few traditional Mongolian bands to have become popular in the rest of the World.
Right from the beginning, Egschiglen set the focus of their artistic work on contemporary music. They systematically explored the sound dimensions of works by classical-modernist Mongolian composers, using traditional instruments from Mongolia and Central Asian including the morin khuur
(a violin with two strings made of horse hair), tobshuur (a lute
symbolizing a swan's throat as neck), joochin
, bass, percussion and singing techniques like khöömii throat singing
.
Their music is characterized by the delicacy and transparency of chamber music, but also by its deeply natural, compelling force. In Egschiglen’s performances, tunes from shamanist or Buddhist tradition, which are common in Central Asia, impress through their diversity of expression and their intricate arrangements.
The musicians also experiment with balancing acts between diverse cultures: in the course of the years, Egschiglen participated in a number of cooperation projects with musicians from various cultural areas. Furthermore, in a relaxed attitude, they present the latest finds from their adopted home, Franconia: traditional song material from the Altmühl valley, arranged as a Mongolian khoomii / morin khuur crossover, which the band has released on their recent album Gereg.
Members of the band are: Tumenbayar Migdorj, Tumursaihan Yanlav, Uuganbaatar Tsend-Ochir, Amartuwshin Baasandorj, Sarangerel Tserevsamba, who are accompaigned for live concerts by the female dancer Ariuanaa Tserendavaa.
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n Folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
band, formed in Ulan Bator in 1991. In English Egschiglen means "Beautiful Melody", and they are one of very few traditional Mongolian bands to have become popular in the rest of the World.
Right from the beginning, Egschiglen set the focus of their artistic work on contemporary music. They systematically explored the sound dimensions of works by classical-modernist Mongolian composers, using traditional instruments from Mongolia and Central Asian including the morin khuur
Morin khuur
The morin khuur is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people, and is considered a symbol of the Mongolian nation. The morin khuur is one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity identified...
(a violin with two strings made of horse hair), tobshuur (a lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
symbolizing a swan's throat as neck), joochin
Hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
, bass, percussion and singing techniques like khöömii throat singing
Overtone singing
Overtone singing, also known as overtone chanting, or harmonic singing, is a type of singing in which the singer manipulates the resonances created as air travels from the lungs, past the vocal folds, and out the lips to produce a melody.The partials of a sound wave made by the human voice can be...
.
Their music is characterized by the delicacy and transparency of chamber music, but also by its deeply natural, compelling force. In Egschiglen’s performances, tunes from shamanist or Buddhist tradition, which are common in Central Asia, impress through their diversity of expression and their intricate arrangements.
The musicians also experiment with balancing acts between diverse cultures: in the course of the years, Egschiglen participated in a number of cooperation projects with musicians from various cultural areas. Furthermore, in a relaxed attitude, they present the latest finds from their adopted home, Franconia: traditional song material from the Altmühl valley, arranged as a Mongolian khoomii / morin khuur crossover, which the band has released on their recent album Gereg.
Members of the band are: Tumenbayar Migdorj, Tumursaihan Yanlav, Uuganbaatar Tsend-Ochir, Amartuwshin Baasandorj, Sarangerel Tserevsamba, who are accompaigned for live concerts by the female dancer Ariuanaa Tserendavaa.
Discography
- Traditionelle Mongolische Lieder (1995)
- Gobi (1997)
- Zazal (2000, Grenzland Studio, Bocholt)
- Sounds of Mongolia (2001)
- Gereg (2007)