Customer Reviews

Mongolia - Living Music Of The Steppes

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The potential purchaser should know that this CD, originally of Japanese issue, is composed of fine field recordings of traditional instrumental and vocal music of Mongolians living in Mongolia and also Inner Mongolia, a province of China. The ethnomusicologist was Haruo Hasumi. The variety of selections provide an extensive introduction to the musical idioms of the region, with the chordal throat singing of khuumei; the morin kuur horse-head fiddle of cello range; the erh-hu-like khuuchir; the Mongolian banjo called a shraga; the yatag zither; and shawns and jew's harp. The performances are both folk and professional, solo and ensemble. This CD is an excellent choice to complement the CDs of professionally produced artists.

In putting together a programme of World Music for Hong Kong's public radio station RTHK Radio 4, I came across this CD and a CD of similar material released by Ocora, the Radio France recording company. Most Ocora recordings of world music are superior products, but in terms of the variety of Mongolian music, their CD fell far short. Living Music of the Steppes is a womderful product and far superior to Ocora's; it contains a wider variety of instruments, has both male and female singers, and has some truly astonishing and gorgeous examples of Tuvan throat singing. My favorites are a track of unaccompanied throat singing, a track of the Mongolian Jew's Harp, and a track with throat singing "accompanied" by the Mongolian 2-stringed fiddle in a heterophonic texture. This is a fantastic product, marred only slightly by programme notes that are a bit hard to follow in their organization. Nonetheless, a must have for all those interested in non-Western music.

Has a good selection of traditional and more modern Mongolian music. Sound quality good, liner notes interesting. A good introduction to different aspects of the music of this region.