Full Description
Introduces the traditional songs of Himalayan Ladakh through their history, ethnology, poetry, and Tibetan Buddhism beliefs.
Singing the Himalayan Crossroads places the traditional song repertoires of the former Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh in both their historical and modern contexts. Although scholarly, it is aimed at a broad general audience, including people interested in ethnomusicology, Tibet, Buddhism, the Silk Road, or the music and cultures of Central and South Asia.
While many songs contain texts that evoke Buddhist meditative visualization practices, at the same time, Muslims, both Sunni and Shia, were prominent in Silk Road caravans that enriched the Buddhist aristocracy. Songs from these Muslim traders often mention important religious sites in Kashmir while having nostalgia for the sights of the Ladakhi capital, Leh. Interweaving these themes, author Noé Dinnerstein mixes a relaxed, conversational narrative with the music and poetry of the songs to evoke the crossroads of High Asia.
A separate anthology of recordings is available online.
Contents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Recording Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. A Cultural and Historical Overview of Ladakh
2. Buddhism in Ladakhi Traditional Songs
3. Music in Muslim Communities
4. Music in a Changing Society
5. Songs and Cultural Representation in the Modern Market
6. Other Song Genres
7. Musical Characteristics of Traditional Ladakhi Song
8. Concluding Summary
Glossary
Appendixes
Notes
Bibliography
Index
