Systematization of Kazakh music in Mongolia: activities of theater and radio station during the Soviet era

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the systematization of Kazakh music in Mongolia during the Soviet era in Bayan-Ölgiy Province, focusing on the music collection and preservation activities led by a theater and radio station. Bayan-Ölgiy is located far from Ulaanbaatar; adjacent to Kazakhstan, Xinjiang (China), and Russia. Using three–years participation observation, this study identified three activities in promoting the systematization of Kazakh music in Mongolia: importing musical knowledge and technology from the Soviet Kazakh Republic (1950–1960s); establishing a radio station and audio archive following the Sino-Soviet split (1960s–1980s); collections of Kazakh music in Mongolia (1960s–1980s). These activities were driving forces for Kazakhs to claim their identity in the post-socialist period in Mongolia. Diener found that Kazakh culture in Mongolia was preserved thanks to the geographic isolation of Bayan-Ölgiy. However, this study clearly identifies international relations and Bayan-Ölgiy’s strategic location as drivers of systematization of Kazakh music in Mongolia.

KEYWORDS:

• Kazakh music in Mongolia
• Kazakhstan
• Sino-Soviet split
• music recording and collections
• Bayan-Ölgiy Province

Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellow (17J04497) and K.Matsushita International Scholarship (18-A19). I would like to express a deep gratitude to Prof. Sampildondovgiin Chuluun, head of Institution of History and Archeology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences and Mr. Nabiuly Ospan, head of Radio Station in Bayan-Ölgiy. I also thank the reviewers for their constructive comments as well as all my informants in the field with special thanks to Mr. Kusainuly Musaif.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Material of Official Documents Stored in the Provincial Archives in Bayan-Ölgiy Province.

accessed in May and June 2018.

[1] Φ 56, Д 1, Х 3: 42 - 2

[2] Ф 58, Д 1, Н 5: 45

[3] Φ 58, Д 1, Н 5: 45

[4] Φ 58, Д 1, Н 11: 95

[5] Φ 58, Д 1, Н 12: 135

[6] Ф 58, Д 1, Н 11: 11.

Notes

1. Frolova-Walker, “National in Form, Socialist in Content”; and Baatarnyam, “Music in Cultural Construction Nationalisation, Popularisation and Commercialisation.”

2. Brubaker, Nationalism Reframed, 23–24.

3. Hirsh, Empire of Nation, 12–15.

4. Martin, The Affirmative Action Empire, 13–14.

5. Bulag, Nationalism and Hybridity in Mongolia; and Shimamura, The Roots Seekers, 106–107.

6. Bulag, Nationalism and Hybridity in Mongolia.

7. Pegg, Mongolian Music, Dance, and Oral Narrative; Marsh, The Horse-head Fiddle and the Cosmopolitan Reimagination; Baatarnyam, “The ‘gong beat’ against the ‘uncultured’”; and Baatarnyam, “Music in Cultural Construction Nationalisation, Popularisation and Commercialisation.”

8. Marsh, The Horse-head Fiddle and the Cosmopolitan Reimagination.

9. Diener, One Homeland or Two?, 164, 175–176.

10. Post, “I Take my Dombra and Sing to Remember my Homeland.”

11. Ibid.

12. National Statistics Office of Mongolia, Khun am, Oron suutsny 2015 ony zawsryn toollogo, 36.

13. Atwood, Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol empire, 39.

14. Diener, One Homeland or Two?, 161–162.

15. Taukeiülï and Malimetülï, Bayan-Ölgii Aimagiin Nevterkhii Toli, 34–35.

16. The Uriankhai are one of the ethnic groups in Mongolia. Many of them live in Bayan-Ölgiy Province and speak a language that is different from Khalkha Mongolian. See Atwood, Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire, 9; and Taukeiülï and Malimetülï, Bayan-Ölgii Aimagiin Nevterkhii Toli, 34–36.

17. Taukeiülï and Malimetülï, Bayan-Ölgii Aimagiin Nevterkhii Toli.

18. Daukeeva, “Qalaqshanyn Auyly.”

19. Zagdsüren and Tsend, MAHN-aas Urlag Utga Zohiolyn Talaar Gargasan Togtool Shiidverüüd (1921–1966), 125, 131.

20. Mongolia and the Soviet Union had a strong exchange in cultural fields, including music, and also in terms of science and economy. Soviet engineers and teachers were dispatched to Mongolia to provide technology and knowledge. Similarly, Mongolians studying in the Soviet Union brought back various kinds of knowledge to Mongolia. Western music was taught in the Soviet Union and Kazakh Republic, and Kazakh Republic played a role in professionally teaching Kazakh musical knowledge.

21. Küsaiynülï and Taukeiynülï, Bayan-Ölgii Muzyka Madeniety, 50.

22. Küsaiynülï and Taukeiynülï, Bayan-Ölgii Muzyka Madeniety, 39; and MUAEG, Mongol-Zuvlultiyn Soyol Shinjlekh Ukhaany Khariltsaa Ded Bot’, 10. Tastanov Khabidolda was a professional musician and composer. During his stay in Mongolia, he taught musicians and also organized Kazakh music concerts there. See QRBGM, Qazaq Mädenieti Entsiklopediyalïq Anïkhtamalïq, 571.

23. Küsaiynülï and Taukeiynülï, Bayan-Ölgii Muzyka Madeniety, 50. Aldabergen was born in Qaraganda Province in Kazakhstan. During his stay in Bayan-Ölgiy, he presented some concert programs. See QRBGM, Qazaq Mädenieti Entsiklopediyalïq Anïkhtamalïq, 474.

24. Küsaiynülï and Taukeiynülï, Bayan-Ölgii Muzyka Madeniety, 39; QRBGM, Qazaq Mädenieti Entsiklopediyalïq Anïkhtamalïq, 390.

25. Küsaiynülï and Taukeiynülï, Bayan-Ölgii Muzyka Madeniety, 72.

26. Interview with Qosaiynülï Musaif on October 12, 2018.

27. Küsaiynülï and Taukeiynülï, Bayan-Ölgii Muzyka Madeniety, 8–9, 40–41.

28. Daukeeva, “Dombyra Performance, Migration, and Memory,” 309.

29. Luthi, The Sino-Soviet Split – Cold War in the Communist World.

30. Lashidyn, Mongol, Khyatadyn Khariltsaa (1949–1999), 39.

31. Shagdarzhavyn, BNMAU-yn Soyolyn Tüükh (1920–1940), 146–148.

32. Ibid., 146.

33. Shagdarzhavyn, BNMAU-yn Soyolyn Tüükh (1941–1960), 254.

34. Rakhmetülï, Jel Qanat Qos, 42.

35. See note 33 above.

36. Punsaldulam and Uljii, Mongol-chekhiyn Diplomat Khariltsaany Barimt Bichgiyn emkhetgel, 344.

37. [1] Φ 56, Д 1, Х 3: 42–2.

38. [2] Ф 58, Д 1, Н 5: 45. The oldest recorded song in the altyn qor collection was sung by BMDT performers in 1967.

39. See note 26 above.

40. [3] Φ 58, Д 1, Н 5: 45.

41. See note 26 above.

42. [4] Φ 58, Д 1, Н 11: 95.

43. [5] Φ 58, Д 1, Н 12: 135.

44. [6] Ф 58, Д 1, Н 11: 11.

45. Küsaiynülï and Taukeiynülï, Bayan-Ölgii Muzyka Madeniety, 77.

46. Akhmerülï and Khasaülï, Mongoliya Qazaqtarynyng Khalyq Änderi.

47. Akhmerülï, Än.

48. Akhmerülï, Mongoliya Kazakhtarnyn Khalyk Andery.

49. Akhmerülï and Khasaülï, Mongoliya Qazaqtarynyng Khalyq Änderi, 4.

50. Ibid.

51. Akhmerülï, Bayan-ölgii Kazakhtarïnïng Dombïra Jäne Sïbïzghï Küilerí.

52. Küsaiynülï and Taukeiynülï, Bayan-Ölgii Muzyka Madeniety, 77.

53. See note 6 above.

54. Hirsh, Empire of Nation.

55. See note 10 above.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [17J04497]; Konosuke Matsushita Memorial Foundation [18-A19].

Notes on contributors

Fuki Yagi

Fuki Yagi is a PhD student at Sokendai, Graduate University for Advanced Studies(National Museum of Ethnology), Japan. He was supported by a program of Research Fellowships for Young Scientists, Japan Society for the Promotion Science(JSPS) during 2017–2019. Current major is Cultural Anthropology and Ethnomusicology of diaspora, especially Kazakh in Mongolia. He conducted the survey for 3 year’s staying in Mongolia and Kazakhstan.