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Mongolian sounds of DOLAN

Updated: 2011-07-18 14:22

By Cindy Gu (chinadaily.com.cn)

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Mongolian sounds of DOLAN

The decoration of matouqin, or horse head guitar, is shown in the picture. Matouqin is a traditional Mongolian instrument and is used heavily in DOLAN's music. [Photo/chinadaily.comc.cn]

DOLAN uses matouqin in almost every song. This traditional guitar-like instrument, about 120cm in length, is said to be the best instrument to accompany long tune, another traditional form of Mongolian art. It is made almost entirely of wood, and is decorated with a delicately carved horse's head (hence the Chinese name matouqin, literally translated as horse head guitar.)

Mongolian sounds of DOLAN

Chaoluomeng of DOLAN demonstrates how matouqin is played. Unlike other instruments, matouqin is played with the back of the finger.  [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Unlike other string instruments, matouqin is played with the back of the fingers. It is characterized by its sweet and rich sound. Depending on how the artist plays it, it can either be dreamy or dreary. "I change my style of play to match the mood of the song," said Chaoluomeng.

Mongolian sounds of DOLAN

Husilei demonstrates how xoomei is sung. Xoomei is a biphonic singing technique. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Xoomei (or hu'mai in Chinese) is a biphonic singing technique. The singer produces two (or more) sounds at once by skillfully vibrating their vocal chords and manipulating their throat cavity. It strengthens and concentrates the harmonics, adds a metallic feel to the high notes and produces an entrancing sound effect. In 2009, xoomei was listed as one of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritages.

 

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