An enjoyable concert in Golok

News :: 2007

The Golok concert

BONN, Germany, 15 September 2007 — I was in Kham and Amdo for a month in August to make my annual visit to the two schools for orphans there that I am involved with. The schools are funded by a project called Tadra project, which was started 10 years ago, and it was, therefore, our 10th anniversary.

There are around 250 children in these schools and the number is increasing every year. I was accompanied by some European sponsors, who took part in the anniversary function.

When we came to Golok to look after our second school, there was a huge horserace festival, where thousands of Tibetan nomads have gathered. The area was full of Tibetan tents and horses. Some of the most popular Tibetan singers in Tibet — Kunga, Dube, Shertan, Dromtso, Tsekyi and others — were invited to perform in a two-day concert (5 and 6 August) to celebrate the festival.

The writer with Kunga Phuntsok (left)

The performances by the artistes, and the whole setup — the stage, the sound system, the lighting, were highly professional. Everything was comparable to western standards. It was a very impressive show. Kunga's song Yi re kyo was particularly very touching. He has a fantastic voice!

I didn't take part in this concert, since my dear sister passed away only a few months ago.

After the concert I had the opportunity to talk to the artistes in the backstage and had lunch with them. I told Kunga about the Tibetan Music Awards 2007, held in June in Mcleod Ganj, India, in which he was awarded the Best Male Singer and the Best Song category. I told him of the big fan following he has in the Tibetan exile community. He was very pleased to hear all these things.

Dube knew who I was since he had done a cover song of one of my songs in the 80s called Phagi Gangri Karpo. He is also a student of Palgon, with whom I gave a concert at the Columbia University in New York in 2006.

From left: Dorje Tashi, Kunga Tseten, Tsekyi (singer) and the writer.

I also met two renowned Tibetan songwriters in Tibet — Kunga Tseten and Dorjee Tashi. Kunga Tseten has studied music in Shanghai and has composed some of the most beautiful songs. One such song is Panchen drenlu.

Kunga and Dorjee knew some of my songs from Trinkhor I and II, which made me feel good. They were happy to hear that I have finished recording Trinkhor IV and that I was going to release it very soon. We made some plans to compose some songs together in the future.

Generally speaking, worldly music has not that much significance in our still very conservative society. But the Tibetan artistes in Tibet are really very brave, and they have become influential persons nowadays. Beside the beauty of their songs, they touch the hearts of the Tibetan people — the hearts of the youth more than anything else. Some of these singers go to jail because of their lyrics. I take my hat off to these new heroes in Tibet!