Mongolian Harmony
Bringing Mongolian Culture to the Bay Area
Mongolia, an emerging democracy asserting its unique identity on the world stage, is featured in a day of academic discussion intended for a general audience, displays of Mongolian crafts and games, and a Mongolian dinner.
The event culminates with the concert “Mongolian Harmony" featuring a gift of old and new: Sengedorj, a "throat singer" whose art extends back centuries and now teters on the verge of extinction; and the jazz ensemble "Boerte," at the cutting edge of new Mongolian music. Boerte takes throat singing into the modern age, and reinterprets traditional Mongolian instruments in twenty-first century colors. Their music combines improvisations on folk music and familiar Mongolian melodies, as well as their own new compositions. This dazzling performance exemplifies the vitality of musical culture in the New Mongolia.
On Thurday, February 3, a master class with Mongolian throat singers will be held at the Institute of East Asian Studies. Enrollment required. See separate event listing for details.
"Mongolian Harmony" Schedule:
Symposium: "Religion and the Arts in Mongolia"
1:00 - 5:00 pm, Home Room, International House
1:00: Welcome
1:10: Panel: Mongolian Buddhism
Chair: Jacob Dalton, East Asian Languages and Cultures, UC Berkeley
Speakers:
Vesna Wallace, Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara
Venerable Lama Damchaabazar Gurjav, Zanabazar Center of Buddhism
Matthew King, University of Toronto
Uranchimeg Tsultem, History of Art, UC Berkeley
2:30: Keynote Address: Battulga Luvsan, General Consul from Mongolia to the United States
3:00: Panel: Traditional Arts of Mongolia
Chair: Pat Berger, History of Art, UC Berkeley
Speakers:
G. Mend-Ooyo, Poet and President of Mongolia Academy of Culture and Poetry
Byambasuren Sharav, Composer
Peter Marsh, Mongolian Music Specialist, California State University-East Bay
O. Enkhtaivan, Artist
5:00 - 7:30 pm: Display of Mongolian craft and customs, International House
6:00: Mongolian Dinner, International House - $10 fee
Concert: "Mongolian Harmony"
7:30-9:30 pm, Chevron Auditorium, International House
Music plays a special role in the lives of the nomadic Mongolian people. Music brings communities together, signing is shared on the move and as people gather in camp. There are even songs to soothe the animals upon whom all depends. This concert features the extraordinary "khuumii," or throat singing and the striking horse-head fiddle, and culminates with an ethno-jazz ensemble Boerte, showcasing the vibrant creativity of the new Mongolia.
Musicians:
Nanjid Sengedorj, virtuoso throat singer
Urtaa Gantulga, horse-head fiddle master
Shijirmaa, Mongolian long song singer
Boerte, Jazz Ensemble
Following the Master Class held Thursday morning at the Institute of East Asian Studies, events continue at Stanford University February 2-5. See http://ceas.stanford.edu/docs/Mongolian_Harmony.pdf for full details.
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