Performed this piece two nights ago with the Bayan Mongol Big Band

[harrisonreed]

Check out this crazy big band chart. I got to perform this with the Bayan Mongol Big Band in Ulanbataar, Mongolia two nights ago. It mixes big band music with the traditional Mongolian "Long Song" format. Never heard anything like this in my life. Thought you guys would find it interesting.

The musicians in Mongolia are VERY good. The big band is serious about their charts, and many of them play in the national symphony and opera as well. We also heard their children playing on traditional cello type instruments. They have good ears and good intonation.



We played a full set but this tune stuck with me.

We also played this more familiar sounding chart that still has hints of Mongolian melodies in it:



FWIW, Doug, your mouthpiece has now been played all over Mongolia. Probably not the first time, but I can guarantee you that it has happened now. Thank you. Literally could not play my small horn without it.

[ericrich]

Very cool! They sound great.
I love new big band music that combines elements of different cultures. Thanks for posting!

[harrisonreed]

They do indeed sound great. We thought it was like a heavily produced album when we got the link (to pick what we would play with them) but no, they just sound good like that.

[CalgaryTbone]

Very cool! Great band and chart!

[Geordie]

Good sound and interesting. Thanks for posting.

[Doug Elliott]

Now that's really cool.

[djhendy]

If you don't mind, what's the story behind this? How did you come to perform with this group in Mongolia?
I'm just curious, not nosey, well maybe a little nosey.

[patrickosmith]

Mongolia! Nice.
Charts sound good.
Pray tell more.
And what mouthpiece/instrument pairing?

[Kingfan]

Wow! Thanks for posting them. Like the others, I would love to hear the back story on the gig.

[harrisonreed]

If you don't mind, what's the story behind this? How did you come to perform with this group in Mongolia?
I'm just curious, not nosey, well maybe a little nosey.

So, the US Army Band in Japan has been tasked to expand our footprint in the Pacific and in Asia. So we have gone and supported some concerts and embassy functions in Palau, and now the same in Mongolia. We are supporting the 4th of July here, while the rest of our band (not many) is merging with the Tokyo Central Band (like Japan's Pershing's Own equivalent) for the open post 4th of July in Tokyo. The biggest goal is to get Military to Military cooperation through music, which we also achieved on this tour (this is the Mongolian military brass band:

1656467880830.jpg

The US embassy in Mongolia graciously suggested many venues for us to play at, and the Bayan Mongol Big Band was at the absolute top of the list.

Everyone we have met has been very nice to us and it seems like the Mongolians really want to share their culture with the world. They have amazing musicians and they are, rightly, very proud of their music here.

I don't want to get into anything about the why's much more than that, since this forum is music focused. There are many musicians from all over the world, and it is great whenever they get together to make music. I want to play music with anyone if it makes the world a better and closer place.

[harrisonreed]

Mongolia! Nice.
Charts sound good.
Pray tell more.
And what mouthpiece/instrument pairing?

I played my 3BF silver sonic with a Doug Elliott XT106N/C+/D3 mouthpiece. The Bayan guys were all on Yamaha large bores with 6.5AL mouthpieces.