As we know, “skilled in dancing and singing” is one of the most impressive aspects of Tibetans. “If a Tibetan can speak, then he can sing; if he can walk, then he can dance.”
This proverb actually describes Tsering Yungdrup.
From a little girl in the mountains who developed passion for singing at a young age to today’s vocal professor who has fostered numerous music talents, she has been committed to music career through her lifetime.
Tsering Yungdrup is a famous Tibetan soprano, a vocal educator, and a professor of the Department of Vocality, Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Devoted to vocality teaching for many years, she strives to find scientific singing modes which incorporate ethnic music styles. She has brought up a batch of ethnic singers including
Yungchen Lhamo, Karmatso, Barkam Girls, Drongbai, and Gelsang Yangshe.
Being born in Garze and growing up there has exposed Tsering Yungdrup to Tibetan folk art, leaving her longing for singing. What made her aspire to be a singer, however, was a special experience.
In 1951, Tsering Yungdrup graduated from Garze Ethnic Cadre School, and was allocated to Xikang Movie Projection Team. As a projectionist, she went to different villages to project movies.
“Once when I was a projectionist, I saw The Two Phoenixes Fly Side By Side, a musical film starring film star and singer Chow Hsuan. In this film, she sings a lot. I remember this film tells stories of a housewife who finally becomes a super singing star. This movie impressed me very much. Also, I saw Bathing Beauty. It’s also a musical film. What impressed me most are all musical films. Ah, dances and the like. Then I became more determined to pursue my dream: to be a performer and singer. ”She said.
After that she was allocated to Xikang Song & Dance Troupe, becoming a performer.
She felt surprised. It was beyond her imagination to be allocated to a troupe. Of course she felt very happy. She got opportunities to show herself on the stage. She wanted to be a singer. That was the start point of her dream.
At that time, she was really very happy.
Words can hardly express her excitement. Anyhow, from projectionist to a performer of Xikang Song & Dance Troupe, Tsering Yungdrup took the first step to realize her dream. But at that time, she was yet to be an eligible singer. She needed to learn much professional knowledge. So, Tsering Yungdrup decided to sign up for an entrance examination for Southwest Conservatory of Music, predecessor of modern Sichuan Conservatory of Music.
Tsering Yungdrup told us, “My chief examiner was Prof. Lang Yuxiu, as well as another professor. Prof. Lang asked me to sing, and then I sang Songs My Mother Taught Me. She was surprised I could sing Chinese songs. I told her that I could also sing The White Haired Girl. She found it strange and asked me why I was able to sing those songs. I told her that I used to be a projectionist and I had projected The White
Haired Girl for dozens of times. So I almost knew all vocal passages of the film. I once listened to them every day. Naturally I picked them up as well as the style of singing. Then I sang The Blowing North Wind. I even imitated Xi’er’s crying over her father. Prof. Lang praised my performance.”
And at that time,she was the first Tibetan student at Southwest Conservatory of Music.
The three years of study passed very quickly. To learn knowledge, in those three years, Tsering Yungdrup studied very hard.With great passion for singing, she made progress rapidly. As times are changing, more and more people are becoming aware of the role of folk and ethnic music. Therefore, at that time Sichuan Conservatory of Music strengthen the comprehensive education of music talents, attracting many Tibetan students to the school.
After graduation, she applied to Tibet Song & Dance Troupe. But the school persuaded me to stay.
At that time, there was a batch of students from Sagya, Shigatse. She had learned many Sagya songs with melodies like “da da da da da da di da,” quite similar to the Ukrainian rhythm of “la la la da da di da di da.” She was very interested in Tibetan music. Apart from Kham, other Tibetan areas also have beautiful music. So she didn’t plan to stay. But the school urged her to stay, since it needed a Tibetan teacher.
This teaching task made her realize that music and art originate from the folk people.
Later, Sichuan Conservatory of Music encouraged teachers to go to the people to collect folk songs and feel the appeal of folk music.
So, Tsering Yungdrup returned to her hometown, aspiring to be inspired by traditional Tibetan folk arts.
“I went to Kangding, Garze, Batang, Derge, and Lhasa. I also visited Tibetan opera troupes in Lhasa and studied folk songs with Khyungpo Dring. With the help of Ama Tsering, I came to understand the features of Tibetan opera. For example, I had known “ai ai ai na ni na ni na ai hai hai hai” since I was little. After Ama Tsering taught me, I thoroughly comprehended it. Because I had studied music. I knew how to sing. In later research, I came to know what the scientific singing is in Tibetan opera. If you incorporate Tibetan opera styles into your singing, then you are a model singer. Because you maintain the original Tibetan styles.” Tsering Yungdrup said.
She thought that experience was fruitful or meaningful. Because she came to know that Tibetan folk music is profound and colorful and there are so many things for her to learn.
After study tour, she returned to the school and gave a performance at the auditorium.
Her singing amazed those teachers. They wondered at her resounding, penetrating voice. Teachers thought highly of her performance. Soon after, she was allocated to the school’s troupe. As a member of the troupe, Tsering Yungdrup usually sang seven or eight songs once on the stage.
In 1980s, she was relocated from the troupe to a teaching position. She became a teacher again and resumed teaching as an assistant.
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