Kalmyk traditional Ut Dun (long-songs)

Workshop mit Ghilyana Dordzhieva (USA)

In this workshop, we will explore two traditional Kalmyk songs, ‘Нәрхн харhа модн’ (Thin pine tree) and ‘Цаhан толhата бор’ (A gray horse with a white head), through guided singing practice. I have selected these songs for their expressive depth and representative vocal style. We will begin with an introduction to the lyrics—their meaning and cultural context—followed by a discussion of how and when these songs are traditionally performed. Together, we will examine key elements of vocal technique, including breathing, timbre, intonation, rhythm, and phrase structure.

Mongol-American Cultural Association
Participants will receive audio recordings, transliterations, translations, and musical notations of the songs. The goal of the lesson is to become familiar with the style of Kalmyk vocal performance and to learn and sing together. No prior experience with the Kalmyk language or music is required—just curiosity and a willingness to listen and sing.

Ghilyana Dordzhieva is an ethnomusicologist specialising in the traditional music and folklore of the Kalmyk and Western Mongolian (Oirat) communities. She is currently a scholar-in-residence at the Mongol-American Cultural Association. She has conducted fieldwork in Kalmykia, Mongolia, and China, with her recordings archived in the World Music Archive at Harvard University andthe Archive of Traditional Music at Indiana University in Bloomington.

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