Tibetan Folk Songs
01 · Historical Records
Bange means “auspicious protective deity” in Tibetan, and the name comes from the Bange Co (lake) within the territory. Bange County lies on the northern Tibetan plateau, and its advantageous geographical and human environment has given the Tibetans here a natural endowment for singing and dancing, so that song and dance have become an indispensable part of their spiritual life; Changlu, the song of chivalrous robbers, is a local folk song that is widely current, its distribution and transmission being concentrated mainly in the northern part of Tibet.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The advantageous geographical and human environment of this place has given its Tibetan inhabitants a natural endowment for singing and dancing. Changlu, the song of chivalrous robbers, is one of the basic genres of folk song in northern Tibet; its lyrics are mostly improvised, it has a long history, and its store is extremely rich. The vocal line is free and expansive, the melody high and clear, the rhythm free and leisurely; the declamatory part of the lyrics uses a regular, dense rhythm which forms a sharp contrast of density and breadth, of regularity and freedom, with the freely sustained notes in singing; and because the two alternate frequently and in many ways, the rhythmic layout of the song is enriched and its musical expressiveness is strengthened. Changlu often reaches the highest note of the whole piece right at the beginning, the emotion is full and it takes the lead by its opening, and the freely sustained vocal line gives the listener a special feeling. Some songs, because their range is high, use falsetto or a method combining falsetto with chest voice.
Chivalrous-robber Changlu
Changlu, that is the “song of chivalrous robbers”, is one of the basic genres of folk song in northern Tibet; its lyrics are mostly improvised, and it has a long history and a rich store.
High opening and free sustained lines
It often reaches the highest note of the whole piece right at the beginning, the emotion being full and taking the lead by its opening; the declamatory part uses a regular, dense rhythm which forms a sharp contrast of density and breadth, of regularity and freedom, with the freely sustained notes in singing.
Falsetto and mixed-voice singing
Some Changlu use falsetto, or a method combining falsetto with chest voice, because their range is high.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Song and dance have become an indispensable part of their spiritual life, and Changlu, the song of chivalrous robbers, is a local folk song that is widely current. Changlu, the song of chivalrous robbers, is distributed and transmitted mainly in the northern part of Tibet; its expressive methods make heavy use of devices such as analogy and comparison, its language is quite distinctive and close to speech, and its works carry a strong flavour of daily life.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Tibetan Folk Songs · Tibetan Folk Songs · Tibetan Folk Songs · Tibetan Folk Songs · Tibetan Folk Songs · Tibetan Folk Songs · Tibetan Folk Songs · Tibetan Folk Songs · Tibetan Folk Songs.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Bange means “auspicious protective deity” in Tibetan, and the name comes from the Bange Co (lake) within the territory. Changlu is mostly sung while herding, while carrying loads and at night gatherings; the singer usually opens on the highest note of the whole piece, the emotion being full and taking the lead by its opening, and then moves from the freely sustained vocal line into a dense, narrative rhythm. Its expressive methods make heavy use of devices such as analogy and comparison, its language is distinctive and close to speech, and its works carry a strong flavour of daily life. Some songs use falsetto, or a combination of falsetto and chest voice, because their range is high. The content of Changlu is drawn for the most part from legends of chivalrous robbers and from grassland sights and incidents; singers often change the words on the spot over the same melody, so that the same song presents a different face in different villages and in the mouths of different singers.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Ma Jianjun 03-0871
- Hua Ergong 03-0872
- Dawazhandou 03-0873
- Jiangbaqizha 05-2122
- Wudefen 05-2123
- Majinlian
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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