Mongolian Horsehead Fiddle

Mongolian Horsehead Fiddle

　　The Mongolian Horsehead Fiddle

　　The horsehead fiddle is a unique bowed string instrument of the Mongolian people. When the melodious tune of a horsehead fiddle plays in your ears, close your eyes and let your imagination wander—you might just find yourself envisioning the vast, open grasslands. This bowed string instrument is said to have been played on the Mongolian grasslands since the time of Genghis Khan (1162–1227 AD). It gets its name from the horse head carved at the top of the neck. The soundbox is made of pine wood and covered with horse or sheep skin. It has two strings, and both the strings and bowstring are made of horsehair. Its volume is relatively soft. In addition to pressing the strings with the fingers, the left-hand playing technique also includes using the fingernails to pluck the strings upward from beneath, creating a distinctive, firm, and powerful sound that sets it apart.

　　The horsehead fiddle has a rich expressive range and excels in performing lyrical melodies. It is said that some mother camels who refused to nurse their calves were so moved by the deep and emotional sound of the fiddle that they shed tears and began to feed their young. The bright and sonorous melodies of the horsehead fiddle reflect the characteristics of Mongolian long-song folk music, painting a picture of sunny grasslands teeming with thriving livestock. Its firm and resonant finger techniques produce a pure, soft, and continuous stream of sound, like the gentle babbling of a stream, celebrating the happy life of the grassland herders.