Weekly World Music: “Duuren Zaan” - Egschiglen
Per Wikipedia, Egschiglen (Mongolian for "Beautiful Melody") is “a Mongolian folk band, formed in Ulan Bator in 1991... From the beginning, Egschiglen set the focus of their artistic work on contemporary music. They systematically explored the sound dimensions of works by classical-modernist Mongolian composers, using traditional instruments from Mongolia and Central Asia, including the morin khuur, tobshuur, joochin, bass, percussion and singing techniques like khöömii throat singing. Their music is characterized by the delicacy and transparency of chamber music, but also by its deeply natural, compelling force. In Egschiglen’s performances, tunes from Shamanist or Buddhist tradition, which are common in Central Asia, impress through their diversity of expression and their intricate arrangements.”
Inspired by Mongolia legends, “Duuren Zaan” harkens back to a time when wrestling competitions became the sport of princes, high state officials and religious dignitaries, whose champions would face off against each other, not uncommonly with fatal consequences. The folk hero Duuren Zaan was one such wrestler, and according to the story, his victory over a prince’s champion led to his murder.
