From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Long-songs are one of the greatest features of traditional Mongolian music. They are generally perceived as sad, and sometimes morose. Lyrical themes vary depending on context; they can be philosophical, religious, romance, or celebratory, and often use horses as a symbol or theme repeated throughout the song. Eastern Mongols typically use a moriin khuur (horse-head fiddle) as accompaniment, sometimes with a type of indigenous flute. Oirat groups of the Western Mongols typically sing long-songs unaccompanied or accompanied with the Ikil.
