From Sagebrush to Steppe
Two years ago a group of Mongolian herdsmen and musicians traveled to Elko, Nevada, to participate in the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
2006 / Hal Cannon / Taki Telonidis / Weekend Edition Sunday, USA
Two years ago a group of Mongolian herdsmen and musicians traveled to Elko, Nevada, to participate in the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Ever since, the American cowboy musicians who experienced the beautiful music and engaging ways of their Mongolain counterparts have wanted to return the favor. Hal Cannon chronicles the journey of these cowboys as they ride horseback across the Mongolian steppe, exchanging music and stories with the nomadic herdsmen of this wide-open country.
While in Mongolia, Cannon collected hours of field recordings, many of which make a short appearance in the documentary. You can hear a few longer selections from those recordings in the Extras section below.
Sagebrush to Steppe was produced in 2005.
produced by
Hal Cannon is the founding director of the Western Folklife Center and its famous child, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Taki Telonidis is Senior Supervising Editor for Reveal , an award winning radio show and podcast that’s dedicated to exposing injustice and holding the powerful accountable.