(headline image: morin huur player. Photo courtesy of Mongolian National Centre for Intangible Heritage.)
The morin huur, often referred to as the horse-head fiddle, is a key symbol of Mongolian, Buryat and Tuvan musical tradition. It is a bowed string instrument with a trapezoidal body and typically features a carved horse’s head at the top of its neck. Its strings are traditionally made of horsehair.
The instrument’s structure includes a quadrilateral wooden sound box, with two parallel strings extending from a wooden bridge on the body to tuning pegs in the scroll, often shaped like a horse’s head. The strings, made of nylon or horsehair, are held in place by a second, smaller bridge. The morin huur is played in an upright position, either resting in the musician’s lap or between their legs.
The bow, loosely strung with horsehair and coated with resin, is gripped underhand, allowing the player to adjust the tension and control the instrument’s tone with precision.
Traditionally, the frame of the morin huur was covered with camel, goat, or sheep skin, leaving a small opening at the back. However, since the 1970s, wooden sound boxes with f-shaped holes, similar to those in European stringed instruments, have become more common.
According to legend, a Mongolian nomad crafted the first morin huur in memory of his beloved horse, using the animal’s remains. The instrument is known for its ability to mimic the sounds of a horse but also possesses a wide range of musical expression.
In recognition of its cultural significance in Mongolia, UNESCO has designated the morin huur as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Mongolian artists such as folk ensemble Khusugtun and rock band The Hu use the morin huur in their performances.
Tuvan throat singing ensemble Chirgilchin use the morin huur on a regular basis.
Australian fusion act Equus also uses the morin huur.
An alternate spelling for the morin huur is morin khuur.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.