Singing for the Horses, Many Wonders of the Morin Khuur

The morin khuur—the Horse Head Fiddle—is one of Mongolia's most recognizable traditional musical instruments and symbols: a bridge between the nation and the horse, a tool that invokes the Khiimori, and much more. Ethnomusicologist Kip Hutchins, author of A Song for the Horses, breaks all of these aspects down. Kip has spent years documenting something older and stranger: music performed not for human audiences but for horses themselves. We speak with Kip about the morin khuur as a living tool in herding practice; the bond between music and animal response; and what the instrument's fate might tell us about Mongolia's ecological and cultural future—from the open steppe to Hustai National Park, where the wild takhi has been reintroduced, to the conservatories shaping the next generation of players. Follow Kip on BlueSky.If herding disappears, does the morin khuur go with it? Or does it become something else entirely?This is our very first video podcast — and we hope you enjoy watching as much as we enjoyed hearing Kip talk and, yes!, play the morin khuur.Artists mentioned during the conversation:Story of the Weeping Camel (film)⁠Bayan Mongol Variety Group⁠: Жалам хар (A Black Horse)The Hu⁠Soyol Erdene⁠⁠Altan Urag⁠Bold: Mongol Pop⁠Aryuna Nimaeva⁠: Эрбэд соохор (Erbed Sokhor)Jonon⁠Namgar⁠⁠Altai-Khangai⁠⁠Khusugtun⁠If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.