Music of a Sherpa Village

In 1973, anthropologist John M. Bishop recorded music of the remote village of Melemichigaon, Nepal. With influence from Tibet, this Nepalese music is characterized by unison singing and occasional accompaniment on the damian, a stringed instrument in the lute family that provides a strong rhythmic base. The musicians generally sing in Helambu (a Sherpa-Tibetan dialect) and sometimes in Tibetan on themes of religion, a desire for material wealth, the natural landscape, and a “sense of an ordered world in contrast to the nomadic pattern of many peoples’ lives” (Bishop). Liner notes include a description of the village and its music, track notes, and lyrics in Helambu/Tibetan and English.

Track Listing

101	Introduction	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	00:07
102	Mane Rila (Instr.)	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	02:05
103	Kangri Kapi Kawa	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	03:33
104	Sirbu Sirki Tengla	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	02:21
105	Kangte La Shubi (Instr.)	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	02:55
106	Kangri Kapi Kawa (Instr.)	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	03:51
107	Dawa Tongbu Tsesung, Pema Dabge Mendhok Sharsung (Instr.)	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	02:42
108	Gyamzu Tengla Tungbi (Instr.)	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	02:34
201	Sirbu Sirki Rila (Instr.)	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	01:56
202	Kangte La Shubi	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	05:31
203	Damian Duet	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	02:07
204	Pasang La Bulti	Kirkiyap and Dawa Sonam	09:58