Nyanxu Tashi, a 54-year-old herdsman from Zadoi County in Sanjiangyuan area, is a music enthusiast. He would spend more time in singing and playing musical instruments, rather than drinking buttered tea.
He loves to play Tibetan mandolin as well as western musical instruments.
Nyanxu Tashi said, “Music is my life. Mandolin and musical instruments of this kind make me know more about Tibetan culture while western musical instruments like saxophone, electronic organ and accordion make me know about things beyond the mountains.”
Nyanxu Tashi was selected as the inheritor of the ancient melody “Gegyalsa Sandra”, a provincial intangible cultural heritage, in 2013.
According to Phuntsok Dawa, chairman of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Gegyalsa Sandra means “the cuckoo’s terzetto”, which is a melody widely circulated in Gegye tribe, Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
It is said that before constructing Tashi Lhapu Monastery in the late 15th century, a man named Geche Tashi rested in Draqing Township of Zadoi County and heard people singing this melody on the way to purchase fuels for the construction. He kept the melody in mind and brought it to Gegye tribe.
Nyanxu Tashi said, “The lyrics of Gegyalsa Sandra cover proverbs, poems, precepts, beautiful landscapes, religious beliefs, folktales, etc. It is an encyclopedia of the Gegye tribe.”
Nyanxu Tashi learned Gegyalsa Sandra from Sori Notse, its eighth generation’s inheritor in the 1970s. Later, he learned over 20 folk song singing methods from local artists. He also learned many performance methods like Tibetan playing and singing all on his own.
During each horse racing festival, he would sing Gegyalsa Sandra for herdsmen. “Gegyalsa Sandra is auspicious. Its tunes can reflect our moods and enlighten us.”
Nyanxu Tashi has taught over 100 students Gegyalsa Sandra singing from 2012 to 2016. The activity “Gegyalsa Sandra in campus” was firstly launched in August 2016, and students in Zadoi County experienced the charm of ancient music at close range.
Phuntsok Dawa said, “Gegyalsa Sandra has been known by more and more herdsmen. It is typical Gegye tribe music, whose history and cultural characteristics are of great value to the study of Tibetan music, linguistics, folklore and so on.”
“Gegyalsa Sandra has been sung till now, proving the artistic value and vitality of ancient Tibetan music. To honor Tibetan culture with music, I will sing this melody to more people in the future,” said Nyanxu Tashi. (Photo/Drapasom)
