Mongolian Long Song
The grassland long song of the Mongols, with few words, long melisma, nuglaa ornaments and free rhythm.
Related
Where it is sung
Long song belongs to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia in China, Mongolia and Buryatia in Russia. Within China, the pastoral areas of Hulunbuir, Xilin Gol and Alxa are especially representative; it is sung at naadam festivals, weddings and banquets.
Musical features
Words are few and phrases long. The melody is expansive, the rhythm free, and the range often spans more than two octaves. Nuglaa, the wave-like ornament produced with the throat and breath, is central. Stanzas usually run to two lines and use alliteration.
Repertory
Liaokuo de Caoyuan, Canglao de Dayan, Zou Ma and Xiao Huang Ma are often named. Liaokuo de Caoyuan exists in Ujumchin and Barga versions; Zou Ma and Xiao Huang Ma are closely associated with the singer Hazhabu.
What to listen for
Hear how a single long tone is stretched by ornament, then follow the breath points. The beauty lies not in a beat but in breath and timbre; the sustained bass of the matouqin offers a useful reference.
Common misunderstandings
A common mistake is to treat long song as simply slow song. Its rhythm is free but not loose, and phrasing, breathing and nuglaa follow strict traditions. Nor is every Mongolian folk song a long song; short song matters just as much.
Listen in the library
All tracks from midicn-lib — inline badge is the license tier (C1 commercial / C2 non-commercial / C3 study only).
Sources
- 《中国音乐词典》编辑部编，中国音乐词典（人民音乐出版社）— 条目与曲目核对，未引用
- The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed., entry "China" — framework checked, not quoted
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.