Description:
The Morin Khuur a bowed chordophone found in Mongolia and in Inner
Mongolia. In Mandarin Chinese the Morin Khuur is called a ma tau qin.
Many regional names are known they are the Khuur, Ikil. The morin khuur
is classified as a member of the huqin family of bowed silk
instruments. In the Qing Dynasty (c. 1644-1901) China the Morin Khuur
may have originated from a similar instrument in resemblance to the
khuur. The khuur is one of the principle instruments played for the
"long song" or "epic song". In Western
Mongolia a name for the Khuur is "Ikil" there is a
connection to the name Igil (a related bowed instrument frin Tuva). The
morin
khuur is played in the neighboring Buryat Republic.The Playing Techniques: The Morin Khuur is played upright in the same manner as a cello. However this is where the cello and the Morin-khuur similarities end. On the cello the musician places their fingers directly onto the string in which touches the fingerboard. When playing the morin khuur the space in between the strings and the fingerboard allow room for some fancy finger techniques where one technique where the fingers of the left hand rapidly hit the strings.
Anatomy of the Morin Khuur:
The body is constructed as a trapasoidal frame in which sound holes are
carved on either side. Two hand carved tuning pegs are carved and
installed close to the head stock. A carving of a horse as the head
stock is symbolic of Mongolian mythology. A serpent is carved just
underneath the head stock where the strings travel through representing
fangs. Each string is tied onto the back of the instrument supported by
a tail. The back of the body is assembled from two pieces. In borrowing
from the Western violin a sound post is added to support the strength
of the khuur under tension and to increase the timbre of morin khuur.
Characters from the Chinese zodiacal calendar are added as outlay on
the fingerboard. The
strings are called "Narin" and "buddhin" in Mongolian “the word "narin"
means "thick" and "buddhin" means "thin". The thicker strings are 130
individual strands selected from a mare’s tale. The thinner strands of
hair amount to approximately 105 individual strands these are selected from a
horses tail.
About my specimen(s):
My first morin khuur is likely from Inner Mongolia at least the sticker
did have recognized the manufacturer's logo of the ditze and my first
morin khuur so I am assuming they maybe and most likely have came from
a Chinese musical instrument factory (in whom I have a ditze flute made
by). So at the given time' I knew the ditze and morin-khuur I have are
from this factory. As for my second one has its origins from Mongolia;
and is hand carved of wood and with very ornate bone outlay. The
concept of “outlay carving” in which unlike inlay carving is where
outlay gives a "three dimensional" appearance to the Morin Khuur in
this case; the body, neck and bow are made of the same wood (not sure
of the species).