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Cultural collaboration across the world: RWCMD and the Morin Khuur composition project
In a unique global cultural exchange project, RWCMD Composition students collaborated with the Mongolian State conservatoire to give its students their first chance to perform international music.
Listening to the world with an open ear: exploration and challenge
Created and organised by RWCMD student Itgeltugs Ganzorig, a graduate of the Mongolian conservatoire, this collaboration explored both the interesting parallels and differences between Welsh and Mongolian cultures.
‘I love the fact that the RWCMD Composition course gives me total compositional and creative freedom,’ he said.
This is what inspired him to bring eight composers from across the four years of the College’s composition course together to explore and challenge these elements. The only criteria was that the music would be played on Mongolia’s national instrument.
Getting to know the Morin Khuur - Mongolia's national instrument
Known as the ‘horsehead fiddle,’ the morin khuur features prominently, both historically and spiritually, in Mongolian nomad culture. It has only two strings, is played with a bow like a cello, and so produces a more folky sound than a Western violin.
One of the key elements of our composition course is to be able to listen to the world with an open ear, to hear the potential for music in every aspect. This partnership embodies that in a wonderfully unique way.
Traditional Mongolian music is both unique, strange and colourful to Western ears, but at the same time, very accessible and easy to listen to.
And of course, both Wales and Mongolia retain ancient traditions, instruments and musical forms.'John HardyHead of Composition
Creating the music, embracing the challenge
Reflecting this focus, students were inspired to listen with an open mind: respecting both the limitations and special characteristics of the Mongolian ensemble, while being challenged to create something original and meaningful.
For first year composers Marshall Ingram and Xander Wallis, offered this opportunity in the first week of their first year, it was a chance to get straight into creating music at the College.
After researching Mongolian music, Marshall then composed something that was very much his own ‘bluesie, jazzie’ style.
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‘I really wanted to push the limits of what these students could do. I asked them to play in a certain way, pizzicato, and they didn’t think they could, because of the limitations of the strings on their instruments.
But when the feedback came back, they said they loved doing it. It was so awesome that they could embrace the challenge.’Marshall IngramFirst year Composition student
Xander added, ‘John Hardy had been demonstrating Mongolian throat music to me in one of our very first discussions. Then by coincidence, that week we were offered this opportunity with the Mongolian conservatoire. That's the kind of vibe of the course.
For my composition I wanted to keep it simple. My piece, ‘Triangles in F’, used simple augmented chords, that when shown on the circle of fifths illustrates a triangle. Each of the contrasting themes represent triangles in nature, such as mountains’.
This project was particularly interesting for Fa Punthakeirtpaisarn because of the similarities with her own Thai national instrument. Fa’s travels to Mongolia inspired her to compose, ‘Windswept Valleys’, reflecting the value that Mongolia places on nature, while also contrasting the two cultures:
‘Wind can be open and wild, but also quick and close, and I wanted to use this to highlight the differences. I also included a pentatonic movement to create the eastern sound, followed by a more Western, romantic section to highlight the contrast’.
Being a part of musical history
Once the compositions were complete, they were sent to the Mongolian State Conservatoire, where the students rehearsed and then performed the pieces.
They were recorded so the RWCMD composers could see and hear the performances to see how their work had been interpreted by the Mongolian musicians.
‘Organizing this project has been a real pleasure for me. Not only it made it possible for modern composers to write for an ancient traditional instrument, but it also demonstrated to the morin khuur community that works by non-Mongolian composers could be of highest quality. And it provided them a new perspective on their traditional instrument.
Although the composers and musicians were in different countries, far across the world, this project brought them together as creative artists, creating a cultural bridge, and insight into other ways of working.'Itgeltugs GanzorigCompostion student
Xander commented, ‘I loved what they played. It showed me that you don’t have to be present as a composer as long as you make your intentions clear in your work.
I sent them a midi audio using a viola, which is apparently the closest instrument we have to the Morin Khuur. On reflection, I would spend more time on it, to make sure it was really perfect before I sent it off, so I wouldn’t keep adding to it.’
'I’ve loved being a part of their musical history. It's the first time I’ve had a piece performed, and the first time they’ve played international music. And I've had a great response to my post on social media sharing the experience.
It was a really unique moment both for me and for them.'Xander WillisFirst year Composition student
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For Fa, the music was played in a slower and more joyous mood than she had originally intended, but she was very happy with the result.
‘I’ve learned that you have to be more clear with your instructions, especially when there is so little interaction. But now, my aim is to create a similar project with my home country of Thailand, so my fellow students can learn more about that culture.’
‘This connects with all of the most satisfying creative opportunities for composers and creative artists.
If our students can keep doing this, with writers, choreographers, film makers, gamers, opera artists, instrumentalists, singers, and all kinds of concert ensembles, electronic and digital resources, then they will be able to continue creating happily for their whole career, without ever getting bored or losing their spark’John HardyHead of Composition
