Preserving Torghut Urtiin Duu: A Tradition of Long Songs
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This video showcases three Urtiin duu songs: ‘Galzan Hoo’, ‘Jirelzej Haragddag Jinstin Guvwan Oroi’, and ‘Hilin Saihan Har’. Dörto, aged 73, inherited the art of Torghut Urtiin duu, or long song, from her parents, particularly from her father. In the 1980s, Dörtö’s younger brother, Ni Namjav, travelled to Mongolia and won a golden medal for singing the Torghut Urtiin duu “Galzan hoo”, elevating their hometown to a hub for Torghut Urtiin duu songs. Reflecting on her own journey, Dörto shared, “I learned quite a lot of songs when I was young. However, during the ten years of the Cultural Revolution I was beginning to forget them, but I gradually picked those songs up again”. Traditionally, singing without purpose was deemed inauspicious, and Torghut singers would typically sing only two sections of a song if it comprised three. The last section was reserved for future generations, symbolizing continuity. However, in contemporary times, this tradition has waned, and people often sing through all the sections. Sometimes, due to time constraints during performances, singers usually limit themselves to one or two sections on stage. Despite the convenience of accessing lyrics from books, there is confusion surrounding edited lyrics, as many books are edited by scholars. This poses a challenge for Urtiin duu singers who rely on these resources for their performances.