There is no other culture with every household having the ability to play morin khuur and sing the long song other than Mongols.
Under the flag of Khusugtun young musicians V.Batzorig, G.Adiyadorj, Kh.Ulambayar, D.Ariunbold, Ch.Amarbayasgalan and O.Chuluunbaatar have shown the millions at Asia's Got Talent how Mongol culture can make one travel through the steppes and feel the wind of vast lands of Mongolia. They literally shown the world the essence of Mongol nomadic culture through their grand and picturesque folklore music performances throughout the competition.
We have invited leader of Khusugtun D.Ariunbold for an interesting insight for our readers.
I WAS APPROACHED TO ESTABLISH A BAND WHERE I COULD DISPLAY THE MANY COLORS OF KHUUMII, WHICH WAS MY DREAM
-First of all let me congratulate you on the successful finish at Asia's Got Talent. How do you assess your success up until now?
-Talent is the essence of the success. On top of talent I would add the aspiration to do what we love. These were the basis for our success and reason why Khusugtun is successful everywhere we go.
This was our first time that we didn't come first at the Asia's Got Talent. For us we do our performaces with our hearts and every stage we seek for innovation and fresh experience. Another drive for Khusugtun is that it united the best performers and musicians Mongolia could offer.
-How the Khusugtun band formed? It should have been not easy to find talented and best.
-Back in December of 2008 we staged the new performance based on Khuumii and the performance was directed by Ganbold. He then approached me and said that he wants to establish khuumii band and wanted me to consider the proposal.
While I was always dreaming of to show the world the many shades and colors of Mongol Khuumii. It was the perfect timing or coincidence. My desire is always to perform the possibilities of khuumii and show others how rich the sound itself could be by adding more voices and singers. At that time I gathered the musicians and performers who were under National Song and Dance Ensemble.
Our first performance was the remake of Tooroi Bandi Mongolian National Folk song. Another performance was at the stage of National Song and Dance Theatre with the perfomance of remake of composer Birvaa. In 2009 our member Batzorig came along and we were formed as Khusugtun band.
-Why you chose to name the band as Khusugtun?
-My spouse actually suggested the name and as our members agreed we have first performed as Khusugtun back in March of 2009. The word itself carries the essence of the nomadic lifestyle. We have been nomadic for centuries and the main means for the nomads were the carts /Khusugtun means cart riders/.
As we started to adopt the modern technology many traditional words are on a brink of disappearing from our vocabulary and being replaced by their modern names. Words such as cart and cart riders are one of those words.
Mongol nomads crafted every cart detail on their own. Carts are not seen anywhere now. AS we have adopted the word Khusugtun, it is now back in the vocabulary.
TRADITIONAL STYLE IS STILL VALUED GLOBALLY AND DRAW MANY
-There are many bands who are performing in folk arts. Your band is more recognized with mixing in the western and modern musical remakes. For instance you accompany with a guitar.
-Let me explain this. First Khusugtun aimed to bring back into circulation the old almost forgotten traditional folk songs. Most of the audience then became the people of age 45 and up. So we aimed to make it possible for the young people to enjoy a well.
Therefore we added guitar and other instruments. The first attemt to incorporate the new instruments into folk music was with buriat song Altargana and was pretty successful as well as it displays how the harp and guitar can be fulfilling each other. Also we have brought the attention of the young audience to the folk music.
Moreover, we are incoporating into our performances the western acapella style and joining it with the sounds of nature all made by human voice power. So far we are being appreciated and listened a lot.
-Judges at the Asia's Got Talent were all praising your performances as it travels them to Mongolia and experience the nomadic lifestyle.
-Mongolian national style, environment and the culture and arts has always drawn attention of the world. Therefore, it is still drawing attention.
-For instance...
-Our deel conveys big culture and as it has the features to define th nomads people are still interested in it even today when the technology is covering our lives.
Secondly, Khuumii is a sound made only possible when felt through heart and mind. it is unique as one voice can make different sounds at the same time. Our Morin Khuur is another essence. Even though it is not perfect yet, it has the kept its traditional ways.
Why the sound of Morin Khuur can bring the tears? One needs to think. It is evident that the tradition has become the new trend. This is the value we need to be proud of.
-Once composer Jantsannorov mentioned that Morin Khuur is live.
-To my mind every thing has its live. Even the tables and chairs. According to the buddhism every thing has its own live. For instance, art itself is live as it caters to people.
Therefore, many say Mongolian art has spirit. Why I am saying this is that In England major art representatives have defined Mongolian art the exact way.
WE WERE REQUERED TO SPEAK MONGOLIAN AS IT SHOWS THE DISTINCTIVE SIDE OF THE SHOW
-Khusugtun had introduced themselves in Mongolian on the stage of the Asia's Got Talent?
-This is the show. It was not the China's Got Talent or Singapore's Got Talent. This was the first of show to cover the whole region.
Asia is the most populated part of the globe. We were required to speak our own languages in order to show the different sides of the Asian region. This was the essence of this show.
-Were you upset with this competition as Khusugtun always comes first anywhere they go?
-Yes indeed. Although it seems like the matter related to the band Khusugtun there was whole Mongolia behind it. Mongolia came in together to support and vote for us and made it possible for us to go that far.
It was upsetting that we could not fulfill the expectation of the Mongolian people. But you should understand that we are not understating our results.
-Your disticntion from other traditional music bands is that every member has multifaceted talents and skills such singing, khuumii and playing the musical instrument?
-Great question, but it is also a relevant question to other bands as well, not just Khusugtun. This is not just our distinction. It is the defining feature of Mongols. Only Mongols can play instrument, sing and laugh and cry at the same time.
Why I am saying this is that anywhere you go in the countryside every household would take Morin Khuur and sing the long song. There is no other culture that does that. This is our distinctive attribute of the Mongolian people.
ACTIVITIES OF KHUSUGTUN UP TILL NOW IS RELATED WITH ME
-Khusugtun has been performing on big global stages such as Royal Albert. Looking back which stage was the most unforgettable?
-The first impression lasts for long. It is an honor for us to perform at big stages. But the most unforgettable one is our first concert we performed in Mongolia on June9th, 2010. That concert was the starting point of our success.
-It has been 6 years already and you have established and led the band, so you are the man behind the success?
-It is difficult to create something anew. And more difficult to carry on. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce the performances on Ethnic Ballad style.
I would proudly say that the current place where the Khusugtun is standing is due to my efforts. I have the responsibility for solving the financial issues, market research and even what songs to sing. I think our members will agree to that.
-More on Ethnic ballad style?
-With the increased stress level among the people due to their busy life schedule I see the Mongolian folk music as having calming effect.
While it is up to anyone on how to use it and how to develop it. Ethnic ballad can be understood as calming music and it is closer to chillout music.
-The work you have done up till now, what is that done for or for whom?
-First of all we are doing this to live, as anyone would in order to support their lives. Secondly, this is the thing we have been studying for years and love to do. And lastly, as long as we cannot go and dig for the minerals, we are doing what is in our hands and capacities to promote Mongolia and contribute to the development of Mongolia.
-Six years ago when you have won at the Internaitonal Khuumii Competition you have mentioned that the biggest competitor was participants from Tuva?
-Tuva is one of the Mongolian ethnic groups and also has rich heritage in terms of the arts and culture. As of Khuumii they have history as well, but it is different in forms. Mongolian Khuumii is like our vast steppes the sound is vast, while Tuva Khuumii although it is narrow the tongue technique is amazing.
Tuva has more ethnic music bands as they have noticed the trend earlier. Tuva Khuumii is well known in USA and European countries. Mongolians have stepped into wolrd music scene with Khuumii only since 1990s.
But nowadays, many would be drawn to Mongolian khuumii and folk music art. Only one episode of Asia's Got Talent was viewed by 500 million, then it counts to 1.5-2 billion for 3-4 episodes. We have delivered our culture to those many already.
There is no other culture with every household having the ability to play morin khuur and sing the long song other than Mongols.
Under the flag of Khusugtun young musicians V.Batzorig, G.Adiyadorj, Kh.Ulambayar, D.Ariunbold, Ch.Amarbayasgalan and O.Chuluunbaatar have shown the millions at Asia's Got Talent how Mongol culture can make one travel through the steppes and feel the wind of vast lands of Mongolia. They literally shown the world the essence of Mongol nomadic culture through their grand and picturesque folklore music performances throughout the competition.
We have invited leader of Khusugtun D.Ariunbold for an interesting insight for our readers.
I WAS APPROACHED TO ESTABLISH A BAND WHERE I COULD DISPLAY THE MANY COLORS OF KHUUMII, WHICH WAS MY DREAM
-First of all let me congratulate you on the successful finish at Asia's Got Talent. How do you assess your success up until now?
-Talent is the essence of the success. On top of talent I would add the aspiration to do what we love. These were the basis for our success and reason why Khusugtun is successful everywhere we go.
This was our first time that we didn't come first at the Asia's Got Talent. For us we do our performaces with our hearts and every stage we seek for innovation and fresh experience. Another drive for Khusugtun is that it united the best performers and musicians Mongolia could offer.
-How the Khusugtun band formed? It should have been not easy to find talented and best.
-Back in December of 2008 we staged the new performance based on Khuumii and the performance was directed by Ganbold. He then approached me and said that he wants to establish khuumii band and wanted me to consider the proposal.
While I was always dreaming of to show the world the many shades and colors of Mongol Khuumii. It was the perfect timing or coincidence. My desire is always to perform the possibilities of khuumii and show others how rich the sound itself could be by adding more voices and singers. At that time I gathered the musicians and performers who were under National Song and Dance Ensemble.
Our first performance was the remake of Tooroi Bandi Mongolian National Folk song. Another performance was at the stage of National Song and Dance Theatre with the perfomance of remake of composer Birvaa. In 2009 our member Batzorig came along and we were formed as Khusugtun band.
-Why you chose to name the band as Khusugtun?
-My spouse actually suggested the name and as our members agreed we have first performed as Khusugtun back in March of 2009. The word itself carries the essence of the nomadic lifestyle. We have been nomadic for centuries and the main means for the nomads were the carts /Khusugtun means cart riders/.
As we started to adopt the modern technology many traditional words are on a brink of disappearing from our vocabulary and being replaced by their modern names. Words such as cart and cart riders are one of those words.
Mongol nomads crafted every cart detail on their own. Carts are not seen anywhere now. AS we have adopted the word Khusugtun, it is now back in the vocabulary.
TRADITIONAL STYLE IS STILL VALUED GLOBALLY AND DRAW MANY
-There are many bands who are performing in folk arts. Your band is more recognized with mixing in the western and modern musical remakes. For instance you accompany with a guitar.
-Let me explain this. First Khusugtun aimed to bring back into circulation the old almost forgotten traditional folk songs. Most of the audience then became the people of age 45 and up. So we aimed to make it possible for the young people to enjoy a well.
Therefore we added guitar and other instruments. The first attemt to incorporate the new instruments into folk music was with buriat song Altargana and was pretty successful as well as it displays how the harp and guitar can be fulfilling each other. Also we have brought the attention of the young audience to the folk music.
Moreover, we are incoporating into our performances the western acapella style and joining it with the sounds of nature all made by human voice power. So far we are being appreciated and listened a lot.
-Judges at the Asia's Got Talent were all praising your performances as it travels them to Mongolia and experience the nomadic lifestyle.
-Mongolian national style, environment and the culture and arts has always drawn attention of the world. Therefore, it is still drawing attention.
-For instance...
-Our deel conveys big culture and as it has the features to define th nomads people are still interested in it even today when the technology is covering our lives.
Secondly, Khuumii is a sound made only possible when felt through heart and mind. it is unique as one voice can make different sounds at the same time. Our Morin Khuur is another essence. Even though it is not perfect yet, it has the kept its traditional ways.
Why the sound of Morin Khuur can bring the tears? One needs to think. It is evident that the tradition has become the new trend. This is the value we need to be proud of.
-Once composer Jantsannorov mentioned that Morin Khuur is live.
-To my mind every thing has its live. Even the tables and chairs. According to the buddhism every thing has its own live. For instance, art itself is live as it caters to people.
Therefore, many say Mongolian art has spirit. Why I am saying this is that In England major art representatives have defined Mongolian art the exact way.
WE WERE REQUERED TO SPEAK MONGOLIAN AS IT SHOWS THE DISTINCTIVE SIDE OF THE SHOW
-Khusugtun had introduced themselves in Mongolian on the stage of the Asia's Got Talent?
-This is the show. It was not the China's Got Talent or Singapore's Got Talent. This was the first of show to cover the whole region.
Asia is the most populated part of the globe. We were required to speak our own languages in order to show the different sides of the Asian region. This was the essence of this show.
-Were you upset with this competition as Khusugtun always comes first anywhere they go?
-Yes indeed. Although it seems like the matter related to the band Khusugtun there was whole Mongolia behind it. Mongolia came in together to support and vote for us and made it possible for us to go that far.
It was upsetting that we could not fulfill the expectation of the Mongolian people. But you should understand that we are not understating our results.
-Your disticntion from other traditional music bands is that every member has multifaceted talents and skills such singing, khuumii and playing the musical instrument?
-Great question, but it is also a relevant question to other bands as well, not just Khusugtun. This is not just our distinction. It is the defining feature of Mongols. Only Mongols can play instrument, sing and laugh and cry at the same time.
Why I am saying this is that anywhere you go in the countryside every household would take Morin Khuur and sing the long song. There is no other culture that does that. This is our distinctive attribute of the Mongolian people.
ACTIVITIES OF KHUSUGTUN UP TILL NOW IS RELATED WITH ME
-Khusugtun has been performing on big global stages such as Royal Albert. Looking back which stage was the most unforgettable?
-The first impression lasts for long. It is an honor for us to perform at big stages. But the most unforgettable one is our first concert we performed in Mongolia on June9th, 2010. That concert was the starting point of our success.
-It has been 6 years already and you have established and led the band, so you are the man behind the success?
-It is difficult to create something anew. And more difficult to carry on. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce the performances on Ethnic Ballad style.
I would proudly say that the current place where the Khusugtun is standing is due to my efforts. I have the responsibility for solving the financial issues, market research and even what songs to sing. I think our members will agree to that.
-More on Ethnic ballad style?
-With the increased stress level among the people due to their busy life schedule I see the Mongolian folk music as having calming effect.
While it is up to anyone on how to use it and how to develop it. Ethnic ballad can be understood as calming music and it is closer to chillout music.
-The work you have done up till now, what is that done for or for whom?
-First of all we are doing this to live, as anyone would in order to support their lives. Secondly, this is the thing we have been studying for years and love to do. And lastly, as long as we cannot go and dig for the minerals, we are doing what is in our hands and capacities to promote Mongolia and contribute to the development of Mongolia.
-Six years ago when you have won at the Internaitonal Khuumii Competition you have mentioned that the biggest competitor was participants from Tuva?
-Tuva is one of the Mongolian ethnic groups and also has rich heritage in terms of the arts and culture. As of Khuumii they have history as well, but it is different in forms. Mongolian Khuumii is like our vast steppes the sound is vast, while Tuva Khuumii although it is narrow the tongue technique is amazing.
Tuva has more ethnic music bands as they have noticed the trend earlier. Tuva Khuumii is well known in USA and European countries. Mongolians have stepped into wolrd music scene with Khuumii only since 1990s.
But nowadays, many would be drawn to Mongolian khuumii and folk music art. Only one episode of Asia's Got Talent was viewed by 500 million, then it counts to 1.5-2 billion for 3-4 episodes. We have delivered our culture to those many already.