Egschiglen

Egschiglen is a Mongolian folk band, formed in Ulaanbaatar in 1991. The band's name translates to "Beautiful Melody" in English. Egschiglen is among the few traditional Mongolian music groups to have achieved international recognition.

From the beginning, Egschiglen set the focus of their artistic work on contemporary music. They systematically explored the sound dimensions of works by classical-modernist Mongolian composers, using traditional instruments from Mongolia and Central Asia, including the morin khuur, tobshuur, joochin, bass, percussion and singing techniques like khöömii throat singing.^[1]

Their music is characterized by the delicacy and transparency of chamber music, but also by its deeply natural, compelling force. In Egschiglen’s performances, tunes from Shamanist or Buddhist tradition, which are common in Central Asia, impress through their diversity of expression and their intricate arrangements. Their throat singing has been acclaimed as "a way of expressing emotion quite unlike any other.”^[1]

The musicians also experiment with balancing acts between diverse cultures: in the course of the years, Egschiglen participated in a number of cooperation projects with musicians from various cultural areas. Furthermore, in a relaxed attitude, they present the latest finds from their adopted home, Franconia: traditional song material from the Altmühl valley, arranged as a Mongolian khöömii / morin khuur crossover, which the band released on their album Gereg.

• Tumenbayar Migdorj
• Tumursaihan Yanlav
• Uuganbaatar Tsend-Ochir
• Amartuwshin Baasandorj
• Sarangerel Tserevsamba

• Traditionelle Mongolische Lieder (1995)
• Gobi (1997)
• Zazal (2000, Grenzland Studio, Bocholt)
• Sounds of Mongolia (2001)
• Gereg (2007)

• Media related to Egschiglen at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website Egschiglen
• Egschiglen at El Espiritu del Sur
• BBC Review of Gereg
• The Guardian Review of Gereg