Ethnomusicological Research in Mongolia and East Asia
About:
Oyuna Pilcher is a music researcher with a focus on contemporary Mongolian musical culture, specifically delving into the captivating world of the Oirat group. With an unwavering dedication to her field, Oyuna's research takes her on a captivating exploration of the musical lives of Mongolians, exploring their ethnic and national identities across Mongolia, China, and Australia.
Her profound research endeavors shed light on the intricate ways in which music serves as a conduit for expressing both a profound sense of longing and nostalgia for their historical homeland, as well as an overwhelming desire for modernity. By meticulously analysing historical recordings, Oyuna unravels the complex emotional reactions experienced by performers during specific stages of their singing, uncovering the remarkable manner in which these emotions manifest in prominent aesthetic features of their performances.
To comprehensively grasp the functionality of Mongolian music, Oyuna has developed a dynamic interdisciplinary approach, drawing on the rich tapestry of ethnomusicological theory, sociology, soundscape ecological theory, as well as gender and motherhood concepts. Through her groundbreaking work, she successfully demonstrates the profound relationship between music and human behavior in the context of a nomadic society, providing invaluable insights from an insider's perspective.
Since 2006, Oyuna has dedicated numerous years to immersive fieldwork in Inner Mongolia, deepening her understanding of the subject matter. Her passion and commitment culminated in the completion of her PhD at the University of New South Wales in 2016. Since 2018, she has been sharing her wealth of knowledge and expertise as a guest lecturer at the University of Melbourne. Furthermore, Oyuna possesses a profound understanding of East Asian music, with a specialisation in Chinese music and Uyghur music in Xinjiang.
In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Oyuna is a classical pianist, a skilled player of the tovshuur (a two-string plucked lute), and a captivating savardan dancer, showcasing her versatility and passion for the rich tapestry of Mongolian arts.
Oyuna Pilcher's unwavering dedication to her research and her multi-faceted talents as a musician and performer make her a true force in the world of academia and a captivating presence in the realm of Mongolian musical culture.
Publications:
Books:
Weina, Oyuna. 2018. Of Herding Life and Homelands: Metaphor, Gender and the Urtyn Duu of Badmaa in Inner Mongolia. Hohhot: Inner Mongolia People's Publishing.
Journal articles:
Weina, Oyuna. 2018. ‘You Can't Sing Urtyn Duu If You Don't Know How to Ride a Horse": Urtyn Duu in Alshaa, Inner Mongolia’. Asian Music. 49(2), 4-33.
Weina, Oyuna. 2017. 'Urtyn Duu Singer Badmaa and Her Musical Life'. Journal of Inner Mongolian College of the Arts. Vol. 2. pp. 46-51
Conference papers:
Weina, Oyuna. 2017. 'Urtyn Duu in Alshaa', in the 44th ICTM World Conference, Ireland, 13 July 2017.
Weina, Oyuna. 2016. 'Motherhood and the Motherland in Urtyn Duu and Mongol Music in Alshaa, Inner Mongolia', in the 39th National Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia, Adelaide, 30 November 2016.
Weina, Oyuna, 2015. 'Concepts of the 'Maternal' in Urtyn Duu and Mongol Songs in Inner Mongolia', in Annual Student Symposium, Musicological Society of Australia, Sydney, 5 September 2015.
Weina, Oyuna. 2014. 'Visual, Zoological Metaphors and Urtyn Duu (long song) in Inner Mongolia', in Annual Student Symposium, Musicological Society of Australia, Sydney, 27 September 2014.