Singing the Himalayan Crossroads

<p><b>Introduces the traditional songs of Himalayan Ladakh through their history ethnology poetry and Tibetan Buddhism beliefs.</b></p><p><i>Singing the Himalayan Crossroads</i> places the traditional song repertoires of the former Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh in both their historical and modern contexts. Although scholarly it is aimed at a broad general audience including people interested in ethnomusicology Tibet Buddhism the Silk Road or the music and cultures of Central and South Asia.</p><p>While many songs contain texts that evoke Buddhist meditative visualization practices at the same time Muslims both Sunni and Shia were prominent in Silk Road caravans that enriched the Buddhist aristocracy. Songs from these Muslim traders often mention important religious sites in Kashmir while having nostalgia for the sights of the Ladakhi capital Leh. Interweaving these themes author Noé Dinnerstein mixes a relaxed conversational narrative with the music and poetry of the songs to evoke the crossroads of High Asia.</p><p>A separate anthology of recordings is available online.</p>