Kalmyk traditional Ut Dun (long-songs)

Workshop mit Ghilyana Dordzhieva (USA)

In this workshop, we will explore two traditional Kalmyk songs, ‘Нәрхн харhа модн’ (Thin pine tree) and ‘Цаhан толhата бор’ (A gray horse with a white head), through guided singing practice. I have selected these songs for their expressive depth and representative vocal style.

We will begin with an introduction to the lyrics—their meaning and cultural context—followed by a discussion of how and when these songs are traditionally performed. Together, we will examine key elements of vocal technique, including breathing, timbre, intonation, rhythm, and phrase structure.

Mongol-American Cultural Association

Participants will receive audio recordings, transliterations, translations, and musical notations of the songs. The goal of the lesson is to become familiar with the style of Kalmyk vocal performance and to learn and sing together.

No prior experience with the Kalmyk language or music is required—just curiosity and a willingness to listen and sing.

Ghilyana Dordzhieva is an ethnomusicologist specialising in the traditional music and folklore of the Kalmyk and Western Mongolian (Oirat) communities. She is currently a scholar-in-residence at the Mongol-American Cultural Association. Between 2000 and 2006, she held teaching positions at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and the Saint Petersburg State University of Art and Culture. She also worked as a Senior Researcher at the Saint Petersburg Centre for Folklore and Ethnography. Her contributions to the field include the CD Tsagan, the book Kalmyk Long Songs: Musical Varieties of a Singular Poetic Theme, and numerous scholarly articles on the musical genres of Western Mongolian ethnic groups. She has conducted fieldwork in Kalmykia, Mongolia, and China, with her recordings archived in the World Music Archive at Harvard University and the Archive of Traditional Music at Indiana University in Bloomington. Ghilyana has received grants from various organisations, including the Firebird Foundation, Wikitongues, the EVIADA project, and the Whiting Foundation. She frequently serves as a guest lecturer at institutions such as Wellesley College, Tufts University, Brandeis University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Boston College. Ghilyana holds a Master’s degree in ethnomusicology and subsequently earned her Candidate of Art Criticism degree (equivalent to a PhD) from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia.