Item : Music of the Tenpas U23

Geographic and cultural informations

Location

Tibet

Location details

Xian de Zayü

Cultural area

tibétaine

Population / social group

Ethnographic context

The Tengpa music includes love songs, songs sung at leisure, etc. Most of them are triple time. Its tune is solemn and simple, characterized by repetition, with songs sung in antiphonal style.
The theme of the songs is about daily life activities and people can improvise the songs whenever the scene touches a chord in their heart.
There are "high," "middle" and "low" dances. The performers form a team. The one holding a horn is the team leader, who is followed by those holding drums and conchs, and dancers.
They form a line or a circle for dancing. In dancing one puts the left foot forward and thrust the right foot up and down twice. The acts are reversed.
The dancing movement is slow and natural. It is repeated several times, first slow and then a little quicker. The performance presents a joyful scene.

'"Knife Dance" is a typical folk dance. The dancers wave knives in their right hands while singing and dancing.
When the whistling sound of the spinning knives mixes with the dancers' shouting, a magnificent scene is presented. This kind of performance shows how the Tengpas struggle with the unfavorable nature.
Their wisdom and courage as well as their internal unity are well shown in their dance.

"Love Song" is the Tengpas' folk song.

Musical informations

Archiving data

Code

CNRSMH_E_1997_020_042_006

Item number

U23

Remarks

23 情歌 love song 9'15
Chanson traditionnel des amoureux, qui applique l'échelle tétratonique (Do-Re-Mi-La), gamme de yu.

Last modification

Dec. 9, 2022, 11:53 a.m.