On September 23rd, the Zankel Music Center launched listeners into a captivating cultural experience with the Tuvergen Band, a Mongolian folk group with an array of beautiful instruments and vocals. The Chicago-based band debuted in 2020 and has since toured countless venues including performing at the Chicago World Music Festival, the Chicago Cultural Center, and of course, our very own music center. Students and faculty were lucky enough to attend the performance free of charge, relax into a wonderful musical experience and gain new insight into music from other cultures. Music plays an integral part in Mongolian culture and the performance was a compelling and unforgettable experience. The folk band’s lead singer Tamir Hargana is also visiting students’ classes this week, asking music students around campus to indulge in exciting new sounds and engage in conversation with new faces. He gave demonstrations and explanations of the vocal styles and instruments, led throat-singing workshops, and let the students ask him questions and prompt discussion about the music.
Tuvergen, which means “galloping” in Mongolian, stems from the importance of horses in Mongolian culture and serves as an inspiration for many of their pieces. The ancient Mongolian proverb “A Mongol without a horse is like a bird without wings”, describes and articulates the basis for a lot of their pieces and the values they express through their music. Their single “HoohiGutal” demonstrated their skills and artistry with a compelling build that included the usage of percussion and strings. Tamir Hargana, the lead vocalist, introduced the audience to a special kind of throat singing called Khoomi. It is a strong symbol of their ethnicity and viewers were fortunate enough to experience something so closely tied to the identity of Mongolians. The singing conveyed a story with its distinct quality, Hargana treating his voice more like an instrument by manipulating his deep and rich sounds. He also excels at playing other instruments, including several types of folk flute and the horse-head fiddles. The band members, Brent Roman who played percussion, the didgeridoo, and HandSonic created a steady and beautiful beat throughout, adding an interesting rhythm to each of their songs. The last member of the band, Naizal Hargana, performs the horse-head fiddle; an instrument that comes out strongly in a song they perform titles Artagana. It’s similar to the cello, but expresses a certain melotic quality that can’t be recreated by other strings.
Each of the band members have given workshops in a variety of countries, which was why it was so special that they shared their talent with students on campus. With their charming anecdotes and song introductions throughout the performance, it’s no surprise people sign up to learn directly from the band themselves. The band plans to continue touring and sharing their art form across the country, as well as allowing space for students to learn from them.
Experiences like these encourage students to look beyond their day-to-day routines and step into non-european roots. Zankel music center provides opportunities like these nearly every week, giving people access to experiences they wouldn’t otherwise participate in. Some upcoming events for students to participate in include Tenzin Choegyal with Attacca Quartet (October 14th) and the Saratoga Symphony Orchestra (October 21st). The Tuvergen Band members are just one example of artists eager to share their talent and stories with the people of Saratoga Springs, making their mark in various musical spaces and to curious students and people everywhere. The Tuvergan Band’s performance was valued by all who were able to share a space with them, compelled by what they do and their passion for their art.