Модон цуур урлалын асуудалд

Aspects of Crafting the Wooden Musical Instrument 'Tsuur'

Abstract

Much research has been done on the origin, tonal system, repertoire, and structure of the wooden “Tsuur”. In these works, the method of crafting “Tsuur”, and the materials used are described in detail by the inheritors of wooden “Tsuur”. In the early times, they made “Tsuur” using mainly hollow-stemmed woody plants such as rhubarb, “tsoorgono”, and “balchirgana”, which were common in the area where they lived, but they were easily damaged and fragile. Therefore, they used more hard and monolithic trees, such as cedar, pine, and larch by hollowing them out and gluing them together. After that, they wrapped them with wire, and covered them with animal guts to make them strong. At the same time, the craftsman measured from the bottom of the “Tsuur” with his finger to make three holes in the wooden “Tsuur”, which caused the distance between the “Tsuur” holes to vary.
Also, the length of the “Tsuur” and the diameter of the upper and lower rim holes differ. It is difficult for musicians of “Tsuur” to play in an ensemble, combine with other instruments, and be included in an orchestra’s composition. Because of these reasons, in this article, we have studied the problems faced in wooden “Tsuur” crafts and its tonal system, compared with the different methods of “Tsuur” craftsmen, and put forward our opinions and conclusions.