Anda Union is a nine-member band from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The band’s name “Anda” comes from the Mongolian word for “brotherhood”.
In August, 2023, the band performed for the first time in the music show The Big Band 3. Their performance soon won the hearts of the audience. The first song they performed was called Jangar, which brought to life the epic (史诗) of Jangar, a famous Mongolian hero. Dressed in traditional Mongolian costumes, the nine musicians played instruments such as the horse-head fiddle (马头琴) and a box-shaped double bass. And they sang in Mongolian, giving the audience a special musical experience.
“I had only dreamed about the grasslands of Inner Mongolia before, but by watching their performance, I felt as if I were in the broad grasslands, enjoying their beauty,” said an audience member. “I especially love their horse-head fiddle,” said another. “It sounds like horses running across the grassland.”
Nars, the band’s lead musician, says since they started the band, their goal has been to draw inspiration from old, forgotten songs while creating a new form of music. They consider Mongolian music a great treasure and want more people to hear it.
Most of the members are good at khoomei (呼麦), a style of Mongolian throat singing. In 2006, Anda Union was given the chance to perform nationwide. In addition, they took their unique sound worldwide, touring the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
They have slowed down and returned home, giving themselves time to meet elderly musicians and listen to more old songs in recent years. “There is a wealth of folk music for us to learn. So far, all we have done with our songs is like a drop in the ocean,” says Nars.
8. Who is Jangar?
A.A great hero. | B.A famous musician. | C.The lead singer of the band. |
9. How did the audience feel about their performance?
A.It was boring. | B.It was fantastic. | C.It was too loud. |
10. Which of the following is TRUE about khoomei?
A.It’s a special way of Mongolian throat singing. |
B.The band members are all good at it. |
C.It’s a traditional way of expressing one’s feelings in western countries. |
11. What have Anda Union done in recent years?
A.They have planned to start a new band. |
B.They have continued touring around the world. |
C.They have slowed down to look for more inspirations (灵感) in their hometown. |