Call it a perfect moment. Call it perfect music. Call it what you will, but it all came together for me when I heard the CD Ama from Yungchen Lhamo.
Yunghchen fled Tibet on foot in 1989 and has since traveled to 70 countries singing her often a cappella music which is steeped in Tibetan traditions and beliefs.
Her name, given to her by a Tibetan lama, means “Goddess of Melody and Song”. And that she is.
While her performances have been, up until this point, very traditional in nature, this CD is a mixture of Middle Eastern percussion and African instruments. It also hints of Native American drumming and chanting. And, in a very beautiful way, they all come together in a compiliation that leans heavily towards loss and longing.
What captured me was the third track, Om Mani Padme Hung. Not because of the spiritual nature of this song, but because it resembled so closely the traditional music of Bhutan, which I had just heard on numerous occassions when I was there in April.
Admittedly, for some, her music will be so foreign so as to not be enjoyable. However, for those with just a bit of exposure to this genre, you will be able to appreciate the tribal, ancient nature of this beautiful CD and all will be able to thoroughly appreciate her angelic, pure vocals.
Travel Well!
Beth
Related links:
Shuffle – On the iPod: Hanggai
Shuffle – On the iPod: Putumayo Roundup
Shuffle – On the iPod: Pernambuco
Shuffle – On the iPod: Shantel
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