By U. BATCHIMEG

People’s Artist, Two-time State Prize Winner, composer N.Jantsannorov has given an interview to “Udriin Sonin” newspaper. Below is the translation.

-We have heard that you held concert collaborating with your son in Japan. Please tell us about this.
-My concert was going to be held on May 14, but due to the earthquake in Japan on March 11, the concert was postponed. It was held on November 19 in Tokyo and initiated by my son Damdinsuren. My son is majoring in Arts Management while studying at Tokyo University of the Arts to become a composer. In order to work more efficiently in the future, my son established the Jantsannorov Fund and is working as the Executive Director. The Mongol Aylguu concert recently held in Japan was the first work by the Jantsannorov Fund. Although we have held concerts in Japan before, this time, the concert had greater compositions and the melodies were composed by only one composer (me), so it was more unique than the other concerts held in Japan before. It was challenging for me not to let people be bored during the two-hour concert. Many experienced and professional musicians, including Lhagvagerel who works in Osaka as a scientist, and pianist Bat-Erdene played instruments in the concert. Harpists and morin khuur players played original sound tracks from movies such as Mandukhai and Buleen Nuram. Japanese people like my composition Setgeld shingesen gobi and my two children played it in the concert. There were Mongolian people in the audience and I played the song Khairlan duulmaar baina to them. It is our responsibility is to unite and educate people through our music and composition.
-How was reaction of the audience? Did you make any profit?
-I think Japanese people might have an interest in my music. There were some Japanese people who related to music at my concert. And there were Mongolians who work and study in Japan as well as ambassadors. My concert was held in a 00-seat hall. Tickets were sold two days before the concert was held. The ticket price was Yen 2500. It was bit lower than the average price. We gave people papers for them to write their impressions about the concert. They have written a lot of things. For example, morin khuur can make melodies that other instruments make. Most of them said, “When I hear the morin khuur playing, it reminds me of the blue sky, and steppe”. And some of them even said, “The moring khuur makes me think about freedom.” Professional people made suggestions about holding the concert every year. In general, I think Mongolians must declare that they are Mongolian people when they are in foreign countries. And we must contribute what we can do to the humanities sector. My son sent my albums to the people of districts who were stricken by the tsunami and earthquake.
-Your melody Tsagaan suvarga is played everywhere. Do they get your permission as an intellectual property?
-When I was a member of Great Khural, I let the intellectual property law be ratified. But it is not being implemented in real life properly yet. If I had gotten every penny for using my melody in Mongolia, like in Germany or Japan, I would have become rich by now. (laughs) People must get educated in regards to intellectual property. Some of them  feel guilty using it without any charge of money. For example, a wedding place gives me 1 million MNT every year for using my melody, because they use my melody Tsagaan suvarga when the couple exchanges their vows.
-Singer D.Bold has recently received a State Prize. Peoples’ responses were different. What did you think?
-It is a matter of people how they respond to that. When I went on the Internet, people’s comments were like, “Give the prize back, what shame” etc. It is not Bold’s fault. I have nothing to say. It is up to the President of Mongolia. He grants the prize to the people who he thinks deserve the prize. So it is not up for the citizens to judge, I guess. The Mongolian President does not just give the prize, but he grants it after a lot of consideration.
-One of you hit songs is Khairlan duulmaar baina or I Want to Love You Like a Love Song. People say that you dedicated the song to a woman.
-I composed the song’s lyrics and melody. It is not a song about woman it is humanities song. The song has a, ‘If you show me your kind heart, I will show you mine in return,’ kind of meaning. It is a song about peoples’ relations. My trainee, Inner Mongolian singer, first sang the song and because of this, people think I dedicated it to an Inner Mongolian female nurse.
-Do you agree with the saying that quality of poem is getting worse and worse?
-I am intending to give a speech on song lyrics and poetry at a conference, which is going to be held soon. People who write lyrics and poems must have sense of abstracting and great knowledge as well as experience.
-You have chosen as one of the top ten influential Mongolians. Do you think your children will follow your footsteps?
- No, they cannot. It is even impossible. I am me. No one can repeat my footsteps. Of course, they will work hard. I have two children, one graduated from Mongolian Music College as a pianist and one as a fiddler. My children are smart. I do not think they will become famous and they do not have to be.
-This year, the Altan Namar or Golden Fall music festival had no audience. You are the person who initiated this festival. What do you think of absence of audience?
-I initiated this in 1982 and it has been held for 29 years no stop. I think management is the problem with this festival. Due to poor management, people assume the festival is not going to be good and will not come. This year, the festival was good, but it is unfortunate people missed it.
-New Year’s Eve is coming. Every singer and band gets busier during this time of year. What about you?
-During this time of year, I am everywhere. I am invited to the New Year’s parties of the Mongolian Music College, the Mongolian Art and Culture University, Mongolian Arts Council etc. If the timing is right, I try to attend all of them.
-Thank you.