Mongolia

Tovshuur

Reasons for selection

The tovshuur is one of the ancient, rare traditional musical instruments of the nomads.

Area where performed

West Mongolia, Chinese Sinkiang region, Russian Altai Mountains and Tuva Republic.

Essential elements of the performing art

Music

Detailed explanation

The tovshuur is an ancient form of the string instrument. Its strings are made from horse's tail. The tovshuur has two strings, narrow and wide. The song and dance are accompanied with the instrument. In addition, the instrument has its own repertoire. One of them is a performance called the Orog Tekh (grey ibex). Musicians show the skill of their performance on it during the folk festival.

Publication and textual documentation

J. Enebish
1997 The role of the tovshuur in singing epic. Report presented at the international festival and symposium Central Asian Epos.
Ulaanbaatar.

Audio documentation

Audio-visual fund of the Research Institute of Arts and Culture, private collection of J. Enebish, Ethnomusicologist, 1975-1988.

Visual documentation

A documentary film The tovshuur is festival, J. Enebish, 1995.

Institution/organisation involved in preservation and promotion

Mongolian University of Arts and Culture, its Research Institute of Arts and Culture, Researchers and Supporters Society for Mongolian Traditional Arts, Baga toiruu-26, Ulaanbaatar-210646, Mongolia

Data provider

Dr. Jambalyn Enebish
Scientific secretary
Research Institute of Arts and Culture
Researchers and Supporters Society for Mongolian Traditional Arts
Mongolian University of Arts and Culture
Address: Baga toiruu-26, Ulaanbaatar-210646, Mongolia