Imagine an instrument born from a love story between a herder and his horse 🐎, its melodies echoing across 800 years of grassland history. Meet the morin khuur – Mongolia’s iconic horse-head fiddle – now thriving through artists like Sambuu in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
🔊 Sambuu, who began his journey at 17, calls the instrument "the heartbeat of our people." Its strings mimic galloping hooves and whinnying stallions, preserving nomadic traditions in every bow stroke. UNESCO recognizes it as intangible cultural heritage, but Sambuu’s mission is personal: "If the young generation forgets this sound, we lose our roots," he says.
📚 By teaching children and forming bands, Sambuu ensures the morin khuur isn’t just a museum piece. His students’ performances – blending ancient techniques with modern rhythms – are going viral on platforms like TikTok, proving tradition can trend. 🌐
🌟 "This music carried us through deserts and festivals," Sambuu reflects. "Now it connects us to the world." From Xinjiang’s valleys to global playlists, the grasslands still sing.
