Ngawang Wenzhang, a famous Tibetan musicologist from Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province has just released his newly-collected music album, "Heavenly Home".

"We have added some modern and popular music elements into our new album to make some breakthrough," said Ngawang Wenzhang. 

Just like Ngawang Wenzhang, some other Tibetan musicologists also try to combine the traditional music element with modern technology to make aged Tibetan music more popular among the modern audiences. Nowadays, the Tibetan music which used to be unfamiliar to audience, has stepped out of the grassland into the world stage.

New China makes ethnic singers and songs popular

From of old, Tibetan people started to live in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, dubbed as "the roof of the world" with an average altitude of 4,000 meters, surrounded by high mountains. The specific environment forms larruping Tibetan traditional culture.

"It was in 1956 that the Qinghai Yushu Folk Singing & Dancing Troup was invited to perform at Huairen Hall of Zhongnanhai ("the Central and South Lakes", now is the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council of the People's Republic of China) and it was in 1957, famous Tibetan singer, Xierijie and Oumi Jiancuo made the Tibetan music world famous by performing at the World Youth Gala held in Moscow, " said Dai Ga, a 68-year-old Tibetan musicologist from Yushu.

As one of the first group Tibetan musicians brought up by the Central Government, Dai Ga introduces that the traditional Tibetan music is colorful and covers different walks of life such as mysterious religion, wonderful Tibetan folk song and famous Tibetan opera. The melodious, joyful Tibetan music can attract audiences immediately.

In early stage, Tibetan music was mainly about living Buddha, holy lake and holy mountain. Tibetan music greeted its first climax in 1960s as the characteristic song, "Emancipated Serfs Sing" by Cedai Drolma became popular all over China.

Tibetan music meets pop music after "the Reform and Opening up"

"Tibetan music started to meet the national music since 1970s by absorbing other ethnic culture such as advanced lighting, characteristic costume and orchestra performance," Dai Ga said.

At the end of 1990s, Han Hong, a famous Tibetan pop singer released a song, "Hometown" and it showed that Tibetan music started stepping towards modern music by combining traditional Tibetan music with popular elements.

In 1995 and 1997, music albums "Sister Drum" and "Dbyangscanma" by Zhu Zheqin have blended traditional Tibetan religion music with western electronic music and received warm welcome after released in 81 countries.

New works with world elements

These years, more and more Tibetan music bands have appeared such as "A-jia", "Dbyangscanma", "Heaven Band" and "Tianchu Band".

"The new generation musicologists have broadened their music contents and also added more international pop music elements," said Dai Ga.

Many singers and music works have tried to add rap to the traditional music for making the Tibetan music more fashionable.

"We have started to absorb other ethnic music elements and we believe that Tibetan music will echo all over the world," said Dai Ga.