National Musical Instrument

"Morin khuur" is an ancient stringed and bard instrument. For the first time morin khuur had a round body and was named "pi – pa" . in the Hunnu period. In the course time or development, its carved head changed many times such as head at cored bird, swan, crocodile and dragon. Then it became a horse head, and the name for the jastrument became morin khuur or horse-headed fiddle. Morin khuur is the main Mongolian national instrument, and there were many famous players such as Argus’ at the 13_th century, Sandag, Jigjid of the 21_th century; and Tudev and Tuvden of the 20_th century. Morin khuur is suitable for playing folk songs both long and short. It developed in the course of time and now became the main instrument in the national musical orchestra. Every household should have one khuur, and they put a khadag on its head and place it in the north of the ger, which is considered to be the most honorable place. It is forbidden to place morin khuur facing the northeast.

Any visitor to a family should play the khuur because it is said that he or she would have visor her work successfully done. In the Borjgin tradition, every family should have a morin khuur, a club and Altangerel, a religions book. As the khuur is as the symbol of peaceful, and joyful life. Moreover the khalkh people play morin khuur /Khukhuu Namjil / during the period of their animals calving and lamming. As they want their newborn animals to be good and healthy.. Even women played this instrument well but according to the tradition women are forbidden to play some folk songs. For example, women don’t play "Tumen ekh". Because it is very special song. It is considered to be the first respected song of the state. Many great players of morin khuur are honorable guests to the national holidays, and various ceremonies and parties such as engagement, wedding, feast of fell, mares, and the feast of new Ger. They usually say good wishes at such feasts and ceremonies. "Jonon khar" is considered to be the melody which the beginners or learners start playing. Jonon khar is the melody-describing gait of an ambler horse. It is also tradition to put a blue scarf on the head of the morin khuur to give it back when they borrow the khuur for their feast. According to Borjgin tradition, at the feasts and ceremonies, the selected head of the feast has the right to choose a person cannot sin or play morin khuur, the head often tells him to learn it. It is for making the person regret.

Morin khuur is played often at the ceremonies and feasts as well as during their work in their lives. So some families or households which don't have morin khuur are called "completed family". The herders usually play nice melodies on the khuur or other instruments to touch the herds when they khuur from one hump of a camel cow which has rejected it s body camel. All day the morin khuur makes beautiful sound in the wind. Then the camel cow is moved by the sound and she becomes kind and loving to her baby camel in the evening.