The Altai Harp calls: Join us as a member and discover Mongolia
Inside us previous blog post about our unique trip to Mongolia in 2026 you've read a bit about the Altai Harp in general. We would like to delve even further into this:
A hidden treasure in the mountains of Mongolia
The Altai Harp is a relatively recent discovery from Western Mongolia. The instrument was discovered in 2008 by a Mongolian nomad who was wandering on a mountaintop with his herd of goats. While walking over the top, he discovered a cave with an opening. He was shocked by what he saw there: a skeleton. He rushed back home and told his wife. Together, they realized that this was probably important to report. Within a short time, a team of archaeologists arrived and discovered that it was a rare and valuable find.
In addition to the skeleton, several artifacts were found, including an exceptionally well-preserved musical instrument. The instrument was decorated with drawings and rune inscriptions, which made it even more unique. After thorough research at the Landesmuseum in Bonn, Germany, it was determined that the tomb, skeleton, and instrument were around 1,400 years old. The rune inscriptions were deciphered, making the name of the skeleton known: “Chure”. The original Altai Harp is on display at the National Museum of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar.
The reintroduction of the Altai Harp into Mongolian music
Ganpurev was involved in researching this instrument at an early stage. He is a respected musician, composer and researcher, who lived in Germany for years and represents the first generation of Mongolian musicians who brought Mongolian music to Europe, with bands such as Uyanga, Fines and Altai.
Ganpurev quickly realized that the discovery of this musical instrument in the cave of Western Mongolia was one of the rarest finds in Mongolia. The evidence showed that the peoples who lived there were not only barbarians and warring tribes, but also had a rich musical culture, with their own written language and a remarkable level of woodworking craftsmanship.
Since 2008, Ganpurev has devoted much of his life to researching the Altai Harp. Together with his band “Altai”, he brought the instrument back to life for the first time after 1400 years.
Ganpurev and his band “Altai” play a traditional hymn about the Altai Mountains:
The Altai Harp: An Instrument with a Rich Sound
An important aspect of the research was the reconstruction of the instrument itself. The Altai Harp has a unique but challenging shape. Together with various instrument builders, Ganpurev made various prototypes based on the original find. The strings are attached to the neck in a specific way, which causes stress on the curved wood. The instrument is now technically so sophisticated that it is of high quality, visually beautiful and has a warm, rich sound.
As far as the music is concerned, no original pieces of music were found, so the specific melodies remain unknown. Ganpurev therefore based on the musical traditions of Mongolia, for example the 2-string Tovshuur and the original string instruments such as the Ikel, both traditional instruments from Western Mongolia. These instruments have a deep connection with nomadic life and the music that was played on it. Ganpurev arranged a large collection of melodies that match the Altai Harp, inspired by traditional ritual music, epic stories, and folk music from Mongolia.
Traditional dance music played on the Altai Harp:
An accessible learning method
Ganpurev has now written three books with an impressive collection of music for the Altai Harp. These books include instrumental pieces based on IKEL melodies, music to accompany dance, folk songs, and even old epic stories and Mongolian lullabies. Specifically, these epic stories and lullabies play an important role in Mongolian culture, both musically and linguistically. (Rowan played some of these lullabies that you here and here can listen).
One of the most special aspects of the Altai Harp is the learning method that Ganpurev developed. This method is so simple that even people without any musical experience can play their first melody within an hour. After a week, they can play multiple melodies, and within a year, they will have a full repertoire. The method is based on simple tables with numbers from 1 to 6, which correspond to the instrument's strings. In the table, there is a number in each block for striking the strings, with the R and L indicating which hand to use. Double lines under the blocks indicate that the string sounds half shorter than a single line. It makes learning the instrument easy and accessible to everyone.
One of Ganpurev's students who came to Mongolia to study the Altai Harp for a few weeks:
Rowan and his passion for the Altai Harp
Rowan followed the development of the Altai Harp early, mainly via Facebook, where Ganpurev was active. The instrument has always intrigued him, but the real magic only skipped when he saw the Altai Harp for the first time in 2021 in a Mongolian souvenir shop in Bonn, Germany. While playing, he understood what a unique instrument it was: the shape, sound and way of playing were so special. He decided to buy the instrument, contacted Ganpurev, and began to learn the basics of playing. This is how his adventure with the Altai Harp began.
Since then, Rowan has been sharing the instrument with the audience, both online and through performances and workshops. For him, the Altai Harp is the ideal instrument to accompany Mongolian throat singing, playing traditional melodies and folk songs. It's also a great instrument for improvisation. Rowan has also written some of his own songs in Dutch, such as “The Lost Horse”, which can be listened to on Spotify and YouTube.
Rowan plays his own written song “The Lost Horse” on the Altai Harp:
A tool to share with everyone
Ganpurev has supported Rowan in his journey with the Altai Harp ever since. His vision is that the instrument can inspire people of all ages to make music, regardless of whether they are musicians or not. It is an instrument that challenges you to make music and at the same time learns a lot about Mongolian music and culture. This applies to both the younger generation in Mongolia, to preserve the country's rich traditions and culture, and to people outside Mongolia, who can thus develop a unique relationship with the country and its music.
Ganpurev founded the “Chure Club” in 2022, a club that focuses on the Altai Harp and its music. In Mongolia, the club now has 100 members.
Ganpurev plays traditional dance music on the Altai Harp with some of his youngest students:
Be the first to join the Chure Club in Europe
The next step is to expand the club to Europe, and this is where Rowan and Saran play an important role. They want to inspire people to join the first European Chure Club and discover the magical world of the Altai Harp. The club is open to everyone regardless of age or musical experience. The goal is not only to learn how to play, but also to understand the stories behind the music and culture. Ultimately, the goal is to make a trip to Mongolia in 2026, a trip that will act as a kind of “general exam”, a spiritual journey through the country. Read more about the trip on this page.
To prepare for that trip, Rowan and Saran will officially join the Chure Club with a ceremony where new members will officially join the Chure Club. They receive their instrument, a membership document and an official badge. During the year before the trip, special days and weekends will be organized to learn the basics of the Altai Harp and to further explore Mongolian music, both instrumentally and with sung lyrics.
The ultimate goal: The trip to Mongolia
Rowan and Saran have been passionately promoting Mongolia and its culture in the Netherlands for years. Their ultimate goal has always been to take people to the country and introduce them to the culture in a unique way. Thanks to the Altai Harp and their close friendship with Ganpurev, they have brought their visions together. The Altai Harp is the instrument that can inspire and bring people together.
Would you like to be the first member of the Chure Club, learn how to play the instrument and travel to Mongolia with us? Let us know, contact us. We can't wait to bring an amazing group of people together and inspire each other. We'll be happy to send you more information about Chure Club membership, what you'll learn after signing up as a member, and preparing for the trip in 2026.
To get inspired by a trip that Ganpurev organized earlier in 2024 with some of his Chure Club members, watch the video below. Unfortunately, there are no subtitles available. But it does provide an interesting glimpse into what Ganpurev has achieved:
Greetings from us,
Rowan, Saran, Ganpurev
