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Since the early 1950s, the Institute of Language and Literature at the Academy of Science (ILL) has been sending survey teams one to three times a year to research and gather data on oral literature and local dialectics. These activities set the groundwork for officially establishing a new archive with written documents and magnetic audio tapes that could be used for research purposes and be maintained. Preserved on magnetic tapes are languages and dialects that have gone extinct, have lost their distinctiveness, or have been adsorbed into other languages or dialects. However, most of the magnetic tapes being kept at the ILL are more than sixty years old, and the expiration date on many tapes has already lapsed. Also, improper storage conditions have caused some tapes to dry out, cling to one another, or fracture. For these reason, it would be hard to transmit to next generation. Accordingly, since 2008, efforts have been made towards restoring and digitizing superannuated magnetic tapes within the internal capability and capacity of the ILL. The lack of training, finance, and proper tools and technical equipment has, nevertheless, created several obstacles and the digitizing results have not been very successful. At this crucial state, the ILL introduced a cooperative request to the Foundation for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage (FPNCH), and the FPNCH proposed that ICHCAP continue the joint project and take measures for restoring and digitizing superannuated magnetic tapes and distributing and disseminating the data among the general public. According to the above decision, the FPNCH and ICHCAP implemented the Joint Cooperation Project of Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage by Using Information Technology from October 2011 to April 2012. As the first stage of the project, the Expert Meeting for Safeguarding ICH by Using Information Technology was held in the Republic of Korea to exchange information with experts for digitizing and restoring the analogue data. The experts of Mongolian National Public Radio, the ILL, and the FPNCH started the project after sharing restoration and digitization knowledge with the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) of Korea, the National Archives of Korea, and the Korea Film Council. As the main outcome of the project, a total of 715 hours of superannuated magnetic tapes including epics, folk tales, tales accompanied by the morin khuur, traditional arts, khuumei, chor, long and short folksongs, and traditional customs were restored, digitized, and categorized. Among them, 128 audio clips were selected and reproduced in a ten-CD collection called Sounds from the Mongolian Grasslands. The collection also includes a twenty-page handbook in English or Korean. Through this project, the general public’s, involved organizations’, and domestic and international experts’ awareness about Mongolian ICH increased, and the archive and music contents of regional ICH were strengthened.
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This CD presents a selection of the best, most distinct, and most outstanding works of Mongolian folk performing arts, which acknowledges their contribution to the cultural diversity of humanity.
Audios
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No. Title Performer Country Manage No Running Time 1 Folk Performing Arts Mongolia AA00000029 Running Water in Egiin River, Egiin Goliin Usnii Ursgal, and a Walk of a Camel, Temeenii Yavdal (morin khuur melody) Elder Ishgen from the Nairamdal District, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia AI00000177 0:02:10
A Swift Horse, Khurdan Morinii Khatiraa (khulsan khuur and tumor khuur) N. Gombodash (male, Khalkha ethnicity) from Saikhandulaan, Dyundgovi Mongolia AI00000191 0:00:49
A Foal of Khotgoidin, Khotgoidiin Unaga (tovshuur), Black Horse Gunan, Gunan Khar (nyasluur), and a Blue Mountain, Tsenkherlen Kharagdakh Uul tsokhiluur) S. Ganzorig (27-year-old male) from Urgamal, Zavkhan Mongolia AI00000172 0:02:07
A Running Yellow Camel, Uulgan Shariin Teshee, A Walk of Pony, Jonongiin Yavdal, and Crying of a Deer, Bukhiin Uramdalt (khulsan khuur) N. Gombodash (male, Khalkha ethnicity) from Saikhandulaan, Dundgovi Mongolia AI00000192 0:02:09
Sayag Bor, Cool and Beautiful Khangai, Seruun Saikhan Khangai, and Tsombon Tuuraitai Khuren (limbe12 performed with the nose) B. Jargal (65-year-old male, Uzemchin ethnicity) from Erdene-Tsagaan, Sukhbaatar Mongolia AI00000196 0:04:20
Sagsain River, Sagsain Gol (tsuur) P. Chukhaa (60-year-old male, Uriankhai ethnicity) from Duut, Khovd Mongolia AI00000182 0:00:46
A Narrow Log Gate, Nariin Dunzen Khaalga (morin khuur melody) D. Tserenjigmed (39-year-old male, Khalkha ethnicity) from Nariinteel, Uvurkhangai Mongolia AI00000186 0:00:53
A Walk of a Horse, Morinii Yavdal (morin khuur melody) D. Tserenjigmed (39-year-old male, Khalkha ethnicity) from Nariinteel, Uvurkhangai Mongolia AI00000199 0:01:19
Zakhchinii’s Biyelgeenii Khuria, Zakhchinii Biyelgeenii Khuria (ikel melody) D. Bukhchuluun (48-year-old male, Durvud ethnicity) from Mankhan, Khovd Mongolia AI00000193 0:02:02
Juurai Gelden (morin khuur melody) D. Nyamaa (42-year-old male, Khoton ethnicity) from Tarialan, Uvs Mongolia AI00000167 0:01:06
A Walk of Pony, Joroo Morinii Yavdal (morin khuur melody) S. Nyamaa (50-year-old male, Bayad ethnicity) from Zuungovi, Uvs Mongolia AI00000171 0:02:09
Duutiin Alia Shar Chamel’s Builgaa, Duutiin Alia Shar Temeenii Builgaa (tsuur) P. Chukhaa (60-year-old male, Uriankhai ethnicity) from Duut, Khovd Mongolia AI00000168 0:00:43
Chanting of Four Oirdiin Ethnic Groups, Durvun Oirdiin Uria (morin khuur8 melody) S. Darjaa (male, Uriankhai ethnicity) from Duut, Khovd Mongolia AI00000162 0:01:17
Benediction of Altai Khangai, Altai Khangai Magtaal (tsuur) P. Chukhaa (60-year-old male, Uriankhai ethnicity) from Duut, Khovd Mongolia AI00000178 0:00:49
Tsagaan Mountain in Avgiin, Avgiin Tsagaan Uul, and Ulaan Mountain, Ulaan Uul (khulsan khuur) B. Banzadnorov (male) from Chandmani-Undur, Khuvsgul Mongolia AI00000201 0:01:14