Mongolian Sihu Music
01 · Historical Records
The Mongol four-string fiddle is a bowed string instrument that evolved from the xiqin used by the ancient Kumoxi people. In the Qing it was used in the court orchestra, where it was called the “tiqin”.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Mongol four-string fiddle music is current in Inner Mongolia, the north-east and the provinces and regions of north China and has had a far-reaching influence on the folk narrative-singing of both the Mongol and Han peoples. The Mongol four-string fiddle is made up of the sound box, neck, tuning pegs, skin membrane, bridge, base, nut, bow and strings, and in its making are used chiefly wood, hide and fur, horse-tail hair, gut and silk thread and rosin powder. It was formerly used mostly as the accompanying instrument for the narrative-singing of uliger and holboo by the wandering artists of the ancient grasslands and later gradually developed into a relatively complete national instrument, whose consummate performing technique has become an important part of Mongol musical culture. It is tuned in fifths and divided into three kinds—treble, alto and bass. The treble fiddle has a bright, crisp tone and is mostly used for solo, duet and ensemble; the alto and bass fiddles have rich, round tones, are good at lyrical pieces and are mainly used to accompany such narrative-singing arts of the Horqin as uliger and holboo. The playing technique of the Gorlos Mongol four-string fiddle forms a school of its own, producing such distinctive sounds as the “plucked tone” like a hoof-beat on the drum, the “buckled tone” like a lark, the “dotted tone” like a clear spring and the “swept tone” like wind and rain; its representative pieces include Ba Yin, Pudeleima and Du Jie. The four-string fiddle playing of Dorbod also has features of its own, its representative pieces including The Legend of the Dashing Horse and Red Crag.
Eight Tones
Representative pieces of the Gorlos Mongol four-string fiddle include Eight Tones, Pudeleima and Du Jie.
Pudeleima
A representative piece of the Gorlos Mongol four-string fiddle, played with the school's distinctive “plucked”, “buckled”, “dotted” and “swept” tones.
Du Jie
A representative piece of the Gorlos Mongol four-string fiddle.
The Legend of the Dashing Horse
Representative pieces of the Dorbod four-string fiddle playing include The Legend of the Dashing Horse and Red Crag.
Red Crag
A representative piece of the Dorbod four-string fiddle playing, which has features of its own.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Mongol four-string fiddle circulates mainly in the Mongol areas of settlement of Inner Mongolia and the provinces and regions of the north-east and north China; the Dorbod four-string fiddle is concentrated in the area of the Dorbod Mongol autonomous county of Heilongjiang, while the Gorlos four-string fiddle is centred on the Qian Gorlos Mongol autonomous county.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Mongolian Sihu Music · Mongolian Sihu Music · Mongolian Sihu Music.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Mongol four-string fiddle music is an outstanding artistic creation of the Mongol people; it is rich in expressive power, its melody is ancient and drawn out, and its performing technique is a thing apart, having very high research value in history, folklore, art studies and the history of cultural exchange between China and other countries. In recent years, with the rapid development of society and the great influx of foreign culture, Mongol four-string fiddle music is gradually losing its space for survival, and its protection brooks no delay. (Associated bearer recorded in the official archive:) Bao Jie, male, Mongol, born March 1965, a native of the Dorbod Mongol autonomous county of Heilongjiang. By the age of fifteen he was already coming to notice at all kinds of cultural activity. He often visited the old folk artists of the grasslands, continually learning and collecting the pieces handed down, and through his own efforts steadily raised his standard of playing. Over several decades he has imparted all the skills he commands to his pupils without reserve, continually enlarging the ranks of transmitters from one or two at the start to more than forty, and he also carries out teaching in primary and middle schools. He is a representative bearer of the fifth batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage items, the Mongol four-string fiddle music. Under his impetus the protection and transmission of Mongol four-string fiddle music has been markedly effective and many excellent folk artists have come forward.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Wuyunlong 02-0274
- Tegexidouleng 02-0275
- Bayanbaolige 04-1518
- Mengyidama 04-1519
- Taotege 05-2060
- Baojie 05-2061
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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