The Mongolian musical instrument, the Morin Khuur also known as the Horse head fiddle, has been registered in the World Heritage of Art and Cultural Objects list. The UNESCO certificate was presented to the Minister of Education, Culture and Sciences, A.Tsanjid, on January 27, 2004 by acting UN resident representative Robert Haggen. The ceremony of UNESCO's Declaration on the Best Heritage of World Folk and Cultural arts was held in Paris on November 7,2003. During the ceremony the UNESCO Secretary General, K.Matsuura, applauded the role and contribution of the Morin Khuur to the world's cultural heritage and said that this two-string musical instrument is intertwined with the 700-year history of the cultural life of the nomadic people of Mongolia. The Morin Khuur's strings are made of horse's mane and tail hair and the scroll is carved in the form of a horse head. In 2002 the President of Mongolia, N.Bagaband,i released a decree aimed at protecting and developing the national musical instrument. The decree instructs the Government of Mongolia to amend state ceremonial rules to support the playing of the national anthem on the Morin Khuur during Tsagaan sar in order to symbolise peace, happiness and the majesty of state and citizens.
Morin Khuur
