The morin khuur is a traditional Mongolian bowed instrument known around the world as the “horsehead fiddle.” Its upright neck is crowned with a masterfully carved horse's head, and its two strings and bow are made of horsehair.
The player holds the instrument upright, resting the body on the knees, and produces a soft, warm, slightly “velvet” sound that, in the Mongolian imagination, imitates the neighing of a horse and the vastness of the steppe. The morin khuur holds a central place in nomadic culture: epic songs are performed to it, as well as the unique art of throat singing. In 2003 the traditional music of the morin khuur was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and in 2008 it was inscribed on the Representative List as a living symbol of Mongolian national identity.
