Name: In Kalkha Mongolian "Morin Khuur". in China the instrument is refered to as "Ma-Tau-Chin".
Type: Bowed-lute
Photos: (of specimen from Mongolia).
Tunings: G-D, or G-C, tuning often depends on musicians' personal preference although G-D is regarded as the standard. G-D is in fourths.
Acquisition (Source): Wooden morin khuur, David DiSanto via a friend of his who travelled to Mongolia.
Description: The Morin kuur is a bowed instrument from Mongolia, and neighboring Buriatia (in the Russian side of the border), and also adopted by Tuvan throaght singers in solo or ensemble settings. The morin-khuur has a rich heritage in Mongolian culture. Both the bow and playing strings are hand made from horse hair. This is what gives the morin khuur its unique rich, deep and warm nasal sound when played. This instreument is played in both Mongolian and Chinese musics but is believed to have its origins in Mongolia.
The specimin(s) I have the first one has its origins from Mongolia; and is hand carved of wood and with very ornate bone outlay. Outlay inlike inlay carving is where outlay gives a "three dimentional" apperance to the Morin Khuur in this case. Also the body, neck and bow are made of the same wood (not sure of the species).
Technique: Played upright, the two bottom corners of the body are supported by the right and left knees, while sitting down.
Evolution (of Morin Khuur): This instrument in Chinese music under the name "Mataoukin" has survived since the "Qing Dynasty" (circa 1644-1901). In Mongolia the origin the origin is believed to have come from a legend teling of the sacred horse that flew from the heavens and had then landed on this earth, then in the form upon arrival you see the morin khuur in its form. This is a legend after all but as to its exact origin this is not to sure.
Characteristics (of this specimen): On the neck there is an outlay of the Chinese, Zodiacal calendar on the "neck" of the instrument. This is intended as a "marking guide", for fingering positions as well as "ornamental athetics" the maker had chosen for this instrument.
This morin khuur has sound holes and a sound post on theinside of the instrument (this is a modern or contemporary design).Traditional morin khuurs do not have a sound post since the skin from snake or animal hide is used to enhance the resonance of the sound, when being played. Two sound holes are hand carved in this instrument in the form or shape of "trebel-clefs" (likely inspired from viola, or violin).
Both the playing strings and bow-string are of the same species of horse hair. When played this creates a very beatiful sound quite rich, in tone. Comparable in between the depths of the viola and cello. The Morin Khuur is capable of 3 octaves (in general terms of comparison) when played by a skilled musician.