Music Classes, Classical Radio Show, Parties, The Queen, The Princess, Holidays, ETC...

Here are just a few things I have been doing for the last two months.

My singing class at the Early Learning Center.

My recorder class at the Youth Center

My high school music history class with a guest violinist from India.

Siddartha, a high school student,

My middle school music history class.

                                                          RADIO SHOW

My classical radio show on Centennial Radio, 101 FM.

Sonam, my audio engineer.

PARTIES!!!!!!

A PARTY AT MY MONK FRIEND'S SISTER'S HOUSE.

 A party in the village of Pobjica.

A book release party at the Royal Banquet Hall, with the princess as special guest.

A party at Tsewang's house, with American students from Wheaten College in Mass., where the 5th King attended.

The Queen with the ministers at a party for the opening of the Sacred Arts of Bhutan Exhibit.

Dec. picnic with the Early Learning Center-  75 degrees!!

New Years Eve., Dec, 2, with a family from Haa Valley.  They are on a different calendar.

NIGHTCLUBS

THE NATIONAL CHORTEN

Buddhist Shrine

THE HOLIDAYS IN BHUTAN

HALLOWEEN AT THE ZIMCHU APARTMENTS

                                           THANKSGIVING AT MY APARTMENT

Pumpkin Pie!!!

Thanksgiving, Bhutanese style

Sparklers for Thanksgiving.

                                                               CHRISTMAS IN BHUTAN

The Art Cafe gets ready for the holidays.

Book Release, Press Conference

The main reason I journeyed to Bhutan was to volunteer for the Music of Bhutan Research Center and to launch our first publication, Masters of Traditional Bhutanese Music.

My colleague, Dr. Janet Herman, an ethnomusicologist and lead author of this book,  joined me for two weeks.  We had an extremely successful release and were well received by the media and general public.

The Music of Bhutan Research Center (MBRC) was founded in Thimphu, Bhutan in 2008 to document, preserve, and promote the traditional music of Bhutan. MBRC aims to break new ground by professionally researching, recording and archiving the many musical traditions of the country’s diverse regional, linguistic and ethnic groups, and by documenting the finest living master musicians in performance and interviews.

In this time of dramatic change and transition, imported popular music and culture is increasingly influential in Bhutan. Through training programs and the production of CD recordings, videos, and other educational materials, MBRC hopes to foster renewed appreciation of and involvement in traditional music within Bhutan, and to introduce this rich, profoundly beautiful music to a global audience.

Renowned Bhutanese musician Kheng Sonam Dorji, of Thimphu, is directing all of MBRC's activities in Bhutan. The U.S. support arm of MBRC is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization based out of Santa Cruz, CA.

                         

Before the press conference, we had a private book release with some of the musicians featured in this book.

Masters of Bhutanese Traditional Music, 

Volume One  (CD included)

This volume highlights ten extraordinary keepers of Bhutan’s unique musical    heritage. This  publication is the first of its kind, gathering together biographical sketches, first hand accounts,

contemporary and historic photographs, and mesmerizing audio

samples to illuminate these incomparable elder musicians and

the precious song forms they uphold.

“Masters of Bhutanese Traditional Music” is essential reading

and listening for anyone seeking to experience the authentic heart of Bhutanese culture.”

– Drimpen Sonam Dhendup,

 Former Dean of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts and  music tutor of King Jigme Singye Wangchuk

“This well-researched and beautifully presented volume

is a ground-breaking work in the field of Bhutanese music        

preservation.”

– Rinzin Penjore

 Director of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts, Thimphu

PRESS CONFERENCE

Myself, in a traditional Kira, renowned musician and composer, Kheng Sonam Dorji, and Dr. Janet Herman.

Press conference with 20 journalists.

Some of the master musicians featured in the book.

Dr. Herman, Am Thinlem, the Nightingale of Bhutan, and myself.

Myself, with Am Thinlem and Ap Tsheten Dorji, a remarkable master musician.

The Druk Norbu Award ( Bhutan treasure) awarded annually by MBRC for outstanding

contribution to traditional music.

MONKS IN BHUTAN

Bhutan is a Buddhist country with more the 2,000 monasteries and thousands of monks.

Although there is a dedication to Buddhism, the monks here also have a great sense of humor and

sense of adventure.  And evidently, they are also into the latest monk fashions.

Monks at Dochula Pass

Thangka painting School

Monks enjoying free time.

The latest fashion in eyewear

The in fashions for adult monks

The in fashions for preteen monks.

Croquet in the Himalayas

Monk portrait at Pobjica  Temple

Bhutanese Dance and Music

The mask dances, known as cham, are said to bring blessings to onlookers. The origins of the mask dances date back to the 8th century. In some cases dancers will wrap their heads with cloth strips to protect them from the weight of the masks.

Dances are grouped in three broad categories: dramatic dances that push morality, dances that purify and protect places from harmful spirits, and dances that celebrate victories by Buddhism and Guru Rinpoche, a man who came to Bhutan in the 8th century and who some consider the Second Buddha.


Bhutanese people see dance as an extension of their religious and social lives because the movement reflects their deep devotion, compassion, tolerance, and harmonious living.


The dancers, who wear flowing, colorful costumes, take on the roles of wrathful and compassionate deities, heroes, demons, the dead and animals. Their movements tell stories about history and fantasy.


Women can join in secular dances.  Many are influenced by the part of the country where the dance originated such Tibet in the north or Nepal in the south.

The dances are accompanied by the music of cymbals, drums, large and small horns, conches and bells.


Sometimes the choreography includes masked clowns, atsaras, who mimic the religious dancers.  They are the only ones who are allowed to mock religion in a society that treats religious things with respect. 

Landscapes and Animals

Bridge view of a river in Wangdi

Himalayan view from Dochula Pass, one hour from Thimphu

Fall in Thimphu

Haa Valley

Pobjica Valley

ANIMALS IN BHUTAN

Harmless snake on the road  We stopped to save its life.

Langur Monkeys

 

DOGS IN THIMPHU

A few of the hundreds of dog that roam Thimphu. They love to lounge in the intersection.

The ever present barking of the dogs, especially at night.

MORE LANDSCAPES

FROM POBJICA VALLEY