Traditional art of whistling
Title
Traditional art of whistling
Alternative Title
Уламжлалт исгэрэх урлаг
Publication Type
Language
mon
eng
Location
Mongolia
Keywords
Whistling
Tongue
Melody
Hisgeree
Tradition
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
ICH Genre
Description
The Mongolian oral folk music art category includes melodic whistling, tongue clapping, throat singing, and mouth harp. The traditional art of whistling is the practice of blowing a melody between the teeth and closing and opening both lips. The traditional art of whistling is divided into three categories: teeth, lips, and palate. The whistle, or “hisgeree,” has the same root as the word “air” (wind), and Mongolians believe that the traditional art of whistling is “the motto of the wind.”. So when the wind is needed, they whistle in the sense that it invites the spirit of the wind. Mongolians do not whistle in winter, spring, and at night and do not whistle on a cloudy day and when it’s windy. Only on clear, sunny, and hot days in summer and autumn. Mongolians avoid whistling at home, when making felt, or when beating wool. They whistle when watering their livestock, which means that horses should be able to drink water, quench their thirst, and drink well. The heritage element “Traditional art of whistling” is registered in the “Folk Performing Art” domain of the National Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mongolia.
Publisher
National Center for Cultural Heritage
Place of Publication
Mongolia
Date of Publication
2022
Academic Field
heritage management
Community/Ethnic Group
Mongolia
Active Contribution
Mongolia, FY 2024