Tibetan Traditional Music

Before the 50th year of last century, Tibet was in close state, and the music in Tibet was in permanent traditional style. Tibetan traditional music can be divided into four categories: court music, folk music, sacred music and theatrical music. Another classification divided theatrical music into folk music.

Tibetan Traditional Music - Court Music

Tibetan court music generally refers to the music serve for Yunle Dance in the Potala Palace in middle of last century, including the music for Yunle Dance in every Grand Living Buddhas' palace of monastery. Although there ever appeared a music form in Tubo period, which is only in song lyric, without music score, it needs to be proved. There are three types of music can be used for Yunle Dance:

--"Gal" (dance) music, it is a very free, broad and long dance music which usually played by "Suna" (which is an orchestral music), Dama Drum and clarinet.

--"Galu" (song) music, it is a tuneful and elegance song which commonly accompanied by Zhanianqin (which is a music instrument in Tibet), cymbal, Biwang (a kind of string music instrument), flute and Genka (string music instrument).

--Drum music which used to welcome and farewell and slight play music which are purely played by music instruments. The general Drum music includes "Suna", Sama Drum and clarinet; the slight play music generally played by clarinet and Dama Drum.

Court music is high degree music in Tibetan Traditional music, the content of it usually about religion or used to praise religion. In the past, the dancers of Yunle dance are male to show the pure and dignity of religion.

Tibetan Traditional Music - Folk Music

Folk music played an important role in Tibetan traditional music. No matter for its variety, amount, or its content; no matter for its covering surface, or the play frequency, it is the top of Tibetan traditional music. Based on the genre, folk music can be divided into singing and dancing, folk song, work song, rap and instrumental music.

Classification of Tibetan Traditional Music - Sacred Music

Before revolution, Tibet is a society in which the state and the church is unified, and almost all the people believe religion, Tibetan Buddhism covered all the social conscious region and dominate people's action. So, sacred music is super in society, and got full-grown development. Tibetan sacred music also named monastery music, commonly divided into Bon religion music and Tibetan Buddhism music. Tibetan Buddhism music also can be divided into Exotoric Buddhism and Esoteric Buddhism. From its form, it includes Yongjin Song, Yigui Song and Exotoric Buddhism vajra music song. Sacred music played in religion festivals. So, sacred music is an important part of religion activities in fact. No matter Yongjin song, Yigui song, or Exotoric Buddhism vajra music song is important part of religion which can not be apart. Therefore, you can hear sacred music where religion activity held. In this sense, sacred music only less than folk music in distribution.

The religion instruments also called "Faqi"(musical instruments used in a Buddhist mass), commonly including "Tongqin"(a kind of bugle) which used in big ceremony; "Jialin" which is a kind of aerophone originated in Han district, used in big ceremony; "Suna" is a kind of musical instruments originated from Arabian district used in every ceremony; Long Handle Deum and tambourine often used in protect sanctuary and avert rituals; big gong and tam-tam mainly used to pronounce the time when monks get together; big shell mainly used in high degree Esoteric Buddhism ceremony; big cymbals mainly used in the ceremony related with evil; Jinggu Bugle is one of widely used aerophone which is needful in summon god ceremony; Bisu which is a musical instrument from the west Han region during the Han dynasty; chiming Gongs is mascot which is made up by nine gongs.

Tibetan Traditional Music - Theatrical Music

The drama in Tibet includes Tibet opera, Qamdo opera and Menba Opera. Tibet opera also named Sichang opera which is the generic name of Tibetan drama. In this sense, Changdu opera and Menba opera are belong to Tibet opera They are the branches of Tibet opera and they are different with Tibet opera in aria and performance, hence the name.

Tibet opera is widely spread in Tibet. Before revolution, there were 20 folk play parties in every place of Tibet. Among them, the most influential are "Qiongriwoqin" Play Party, "Jiekaquzong" Play Party, "Xiangba" Play Party and "Juemulong" Play Party.

The music of Tibet opera mainly carried out by aria and accompanied by drum and cymbals. The aria of Tibet opera is the model of Tibetans vocal music art. It is unique in the world music field for its long rhythm, relax meter and resounding tone.