As Bhutan is rich in culture, her music is also sophisticated accordingly. There are several different traditions in Bhutanese music, from Layas to Sharchops every community has developped uniques styles within time. In Wikipedia, it is mentioned that Bhutan was first united in the 17th century, during the reign of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1652); the same period saw a great blossoming of folk music and dance (cham). Instruments dating to this time include the lingm (flute), dramnyen (lute) and chiwang (fiddle).
The influence of Drukpa Kagyud school and Buddhist music on Bhutanese culture is obvious. Many folk songs and chanting styles are derived from Buddhistic traditions.
The traditional dranyen, a kind of folk guitar, has been updated into the rigsar dranyen for use in popular music. The rigsar dranyen has 15 strings, two bridges and an extra set of tuning keys.
Bhutanese popular music history began with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, which was followed by the band Tashi Nyencha, who established the first recording studio in Thimphu in 1991. Prior to this period, Bhutanese people primarily listened to filmi and other kinds of Indian pop music. Rigsar is the dominant style of Bhutanese popular music, and dates back to the late 1980s. The first major music star was Shera Lhendup, whose career began after the 1981 hit "Jyalam Jaylam Gi Ashi".
By the end of the 1980s, rigsar was no longer so popular, until the founding of the Norling Drayang recording label. Since Norling came into limelight, popular Bhutanese music has primarily been the rigsar genre, a fusion of elements from Western pop, Indian and Nepali music. The best-selling rigar album in Bhutanese history was New Waves (1996) by Suresh Moktan & Lhamo Dukpa. Lhamo Dukpa is the first Bhutanese modern female singer.
There are many local singers in Bhutan, actually in every family you can find one Bhutanese singer who has recorded his or her own album. In deed, music is one of our primary hobbies. We like composing our own songs, which tell about our love affairs, families, friends, sorrows, and dreams. Nowadays mostly, modern instruments like guitar, keyboard, and drum machine are used in recording studios. These studios have limited facilities but they offer so much fun for us. Even I and my wife have an album with our songs about our family and eternal love. There is a special song in that album that tells about my late sister who passed away at a young age.
In the past ages, only Lamas and Royal people were composing songs. But it changed in time and now every Bhutanese who likes music can compose his or her own songs and share with others.
Some Famous Singers:
Dechen Pema, Namka Lhamo, Lhamo Dukpa, Nguldrup Dorji, Neten Dorji, Suresh Moktan, Karma Sherub, Jigme Nidup, Shera Lhendup, Kenzang Norbu, Rinchen Namgay, Karma Sherub
To purchase an internatinally promoted Bhutanese album, you can visit Amazon.com; following this link, you will see
Endless Songs from Bhutan album of Jigme Drukpa.
http://www.amazon.com/Endless-Songs-Bhutan-Jigme-Drukpa/dp/B00000I7M9
Some examples of Bhutanese music in Youtube.com:
Bhutanese songs by royal dancers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJkq8Og1VJw
Drukgi Gyalkhap, a song about Bhutan and her people. The song tells the life in Bhutan, our King, and our values.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O--5TaplaIY
The influence of Drukpa Kagyud school and Buddhist music on Bhutanese culture is obvious. Many folk songs and chanting styles are derived from Buddhistic traditions.
The traditional dranyen, a kind of folk guitar, has been updated into the rigsar dranyen for use in popular music. The rigsar dranyen has 15 strings, two bridges and an extra set of tuning keys.
Bhutanese popular music history began with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, which was followed by the band Tashi Nyencha, who established the first recording studio in Thimphu in 1991. Prior to this period, Bhutanese people primarily listened to filmi and other kinds of Indian pop music. Rigsar is the dominant style of Bhutanese popular music, and dates back to the late 1980s. The first major music star was Shera Lhendup, whose career began after the 1981 hit "Jyalam Jaylam Gi Ashi".
By the end of the 1980s, rigsar was no longer so popular, until the founding of the Norling Drayang recording label. Since Norling came into limelight, popular Bhutanese music has primarily been the rigsar genre, a fusion of elements from Western pop, Indian and Nepali music. The best-selling rigar album in Bhutanese history was New Waves (1996) by Suresh Moktan & Lhamo Dukpa. Lhamo Dukpa is the first Bhutanese modern female singer.There are many local singers in Bhutan, actually in every family you can find one Bhutanese singer who has recorded his or her own album. In deed, music is one of our primary hobbies. We like composing our own songs, which tell about our love affairs, families, friends, sorrows, and dreams. Nowadays mostly, modern instruments like guitar, keyboard, and drum machine are used in recording studios. These studios have limited facilities but they offer so much fun for us. Even I and my wife have an album with our songs about our family and eternal love. There is a special song in that album that tells about my late sister who passed away at a young age.
In the past ages, only Lamas and Royal people were composing songs. But it changed in time and now every Bhutanese who likes music can compose his or her own songs and share with others.
Some Famous Singers:
Dechen Pema, Namka Lhamo, Lhamo Dukpa, Nguldrup Dorji, Neten Dorji, Suresh Moktan, Karma Sherub, Jigme Nidup, Shera Lhendup, Kenzang Norbu, Rinchen Namgay, Karma Sherub
To purchase an internatinally promoted Bhutanese album, you can visit Amazon.com; following this link, you will see
Endless Songs from Bhutan album of Jigme Drukpa.
http://www.amazon.com/Endless-Songs-Bhutan-Jigme-Drukpa/dp/B00000I7M9
Some examples of Bhutanese music in Youtube.com:
Bhutanese songs by royal dancers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJkq8Og1VJw
Drukgi Gyalkhap, a song about Bhutan and her people. The song tells the life in Bhutan, our King, and our values.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O--5TaplaIY
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