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An Evening of Traditional Tibetan Music

Event •Music • By Robert K. Foster

On Saturday, June 16, 2007 I attended a concert of sorts showcasing the singing and playing abilities of Pasang Dolma and another musician from Japan, Toshi Kuga. For those not familiar with Tibetan and Japanese names, Pasang is female and Kuga is male.

From the Event listing at Schuler Books:

A Performance by Traditional Tibetan Singer Passang Dolma
Saturday, June 16th at 8:00p.m
Passang Dolma is an award-winning vocalist from Dharamshala who specializes in classical Tibetan songs. She won the first ever Tibetan musical award for Best Female Singer and has performed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Join us by the fireplace for a special performance at Schuler on June 16th.

The reason I say that it was “a concert of sorts” is that I felt that it wasn’t really the best venue for a performance of this type. A small theater in the round like they have on campus at Michigan State University would have been better suited but I certainly like to support Schuler Books. And otherwise I would not have seen the performance at all.

One other area of concern with the performance was the unavoidable language barrier between the audience and the performers. Don’t get me wrong, the Japanese musician Toshi Kuga and a very fluent translator both made every effort to explain in full the song meanings, style, and origins. The problem I am referring to is that I myself don’t understand Tibetan, and I’m sure most of the other people attending didn’t either.

It is like the old debate over Classical Opera performed in the language of the composer which is usually Italian or German or some other language than English. In both these situations one who does not understand the language can not get the full meaning from the music. When you are listening to a very foreign musical style like traditional Tibetan music I think it is often hard for the general public to get engaged in the music for this reason.

At any rate, Pasang Dolma showed a high degree of technical skill in both singing and playing the traditional stringed instruments of Tibet. Even without knowing Tibetan it was also clear that she had a high level of emotional depth to her singing. Perhaps it was because I was sitting so close but she had a very powerful voice and had no need for a microphone. Toshi Kuga also showed great skill with playing in accompaniment. For me it was a great introduction to the traditional music of Tibet.

You can find more information about Pasang Dolma on the web through Google. Here are some links:

A 2006 tour of Japan
http://musictibet.com/news/2006/20061107-pasang_dolma_tours_japan.html

The Tibetan Music Awards in 2003
http://musictibet.com/awards/2003/

Tibet Link
http://www.tibetlink.com/

Pasang Dolma on Tibet Link
http://www.tibetlink.com/index.php?option=com_artistavenue&task=singleArtist&id=31&Itemid=81

Sunday, June 17, 2007
Updated by Robert K. Foster on 24Jan2009 at 11:09 AM
Event • Music • (1) Comments • Print This

Song Lyrics for Pasang Dolma’s album Memories (Dren sem)

Music • By Robert K. Foster

Back in July of 2007 the Tibetan singer and musician Pasang Dolma was kind enough to forward to me the english translations of the lyrics to the songs on her album Memories (Dren sem). I present them here as they stand alone as poetry in their own right. They are also a great insight into the Tibetan culture. The album is very much worth purchasing if you happen to come across it. On the CD that I have there is an eleventh track but I have lyrics here for only ten songs, so I’m not sure which one is missing.

1. The Jewel of Tibet

Wishing good luck on your birthday!
May you live long!
From the golden mountain in the east,
Arose the golden sun
The countless rays of the sun,
Spread all over the world.
From the middle of Lake Lhamo Latso,
A ka ma, the letters of prophecy,
Surfaced and welcomed,
The Jewel of Tibet.
In the blissful birthplace of Taktse,
To a loving mother,
Descended the Protector of All Sentient Beings,
Gyalwang Tenzin Gyatso.
Dance the joyous dance,
And sing the happy song,
We will dedicate to you,
The dances of joy and happiness.

2. Sweetheart

Our coming together,
Is the result of good fate,
That our good fate doesn’t change,
Sweetheart! You must strive!
Sweetheart! You must strive!
When you are not around,
The day seem so long,
When it is time for us to separate,
Tears come naturally,
You! My sweetheart!
Look in my direction,
Do not go far,
Stay besides me.
Stay besides me.

3. Democracy

In an egalitarian democracy treading the path of peace,
The wheel of religion and politics revolves.
Future Tibet will speed along this highway,
And realize the revival of their prosperity.
Embrace the path of democracy to bring about,
Equality of race, gender and peace!
Forty two years have passed,
Since HH the Dalai Lama,
Gave us the highway of democracy.
We must remember this kindness!
Observe the equality of race and gender,
And traverse the path of democracy!

4. Karma

This fate of our coming together,
Is the result of our past Karma,
Even with nothing to eat except mud,
We will forever stay with each other.
So…so…ya…la

This fate of our coming together,
Is the karma for the yellow swan,
Although having nothing bur water to drink,
I don’t see the need for us to separate.
So…so…ya…la
5. Chang song

The first chang,
i offter to the Three Jewels,
Enjoy the fine chang!
And may luck and prosperity shine forth!
I offered the first to the Three Jewels!

The second chang,
I offer to my dear parents,
Enjoy the delicious chang!
And my you live for hundred of years!
I offered the second to my dear parents.

The third chang,
i offered to my friends,
Enjoy the fine chang!
And may you become healthy!
I offered the third to the friends.
6. Memories

Leaving behind my happy homeland,
I had to venture into a foreign country,
Taking small steps on the way,
I crossed countless trails along high precipices.
The rivers with their wrinkle-like ripples,
Are like the smiling face of my parents.
Mountains, high and low,
I thought they were my relatives.
In an unfamiliar foreign country,
The day seem long,
Abundant, food and drinks may be,
My mind does not seem attached here.

7. Long life empowerment

In the town of Dharamsala,
At the Tsuglakhang Cathedral,
To the people, lay and monks.
The religious faithful,
Who have gathered on this courtyard,
All without exception were,
Given long life pills, long life chang and dresil.

8. Incense burning Ceremony

On an auspicious and meritorious day
I went to an incense burning ceremony,
Amidst the clouds of fragrant smokes,
I saw the face of my parents.
Unfurled the five-colored prayer flags,
High in the expanse of the sky,
From my heart, I pray,
That my parents live long!

9. Tibet—Roof of the World

The mountains of Himalaya!
Can you shift a little?
I thought I shall catch a glimpse,
Of the Potala Palace.

I remember, yes, I remember,
I remember day and night.
Tibet-Roof of the world,
I remember day and night.
The rivers from the snow mountains,
Flows down on this earth,
I wish I could hear the bells ringing,
Of the Tsuglakhang Temple in Lhasa.

I remember, yes, I remember,
I remember day and night.
Brothers and sisters of the same race,
I remember day and night.
Brothers and sisters of the same race,
Do not be sad,
After one or two years,
We shall return bearing good news.
Brothers and sisters of the same race,
I pray for our reunion.

10. Promise of Love

Do not be sad,
The thrush under the willow,
If fate and luck is on our side,
Then a day of our meeting shall come.
This fate of ours,
Is like the fate of a crane couple,
That we shall live and die together in this life,
This is our promise of love!
When we separated the year earlier,
Tears of sadness came out,
At this place this year,
Bamboo without joints have grown,
If the bamboo can help me,
Reach for my beloved,
I hope I can see the face of beloved,
From amidst the bamboo.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Updated by Robert K. Foster on 04Mar2008 at 06:09 PM
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