Love Songs From Qinghai
Here we present three endangered love songs that were recorded by Tserang Samdrub (Landon) in Rma lho County in Rma lho Prefecture and Brag mgo County in Mtsho lho Prefecture. The local term for love songs is ’songs [for singing on the mountain] slope’ (la gzhas). This name originates in the fact that it is taboo to sing such songs in the house or anywhere close elder relatives of the opposite sex may be present. Fathers may sing la gzhas to sons (to teach them) and mothers to daughters. La gzhas are a medium through which unmarried men and women express their feelings to each other when they meet at brte mgo sdus— ‘gathering to open songs’. It is not uncommon for people to meet their future spouse at such meetings.
Love songs from A mdo frequently employ metaphors. Examples from this sample include a sheep in first song, a golden-stamped tea brick in the second song, and a snow mountain in the third song. These metaphors usually appear in the first stanza of each song; the second stanza then reflects the structure of the first stanza, but explicitly describes the object of the singer’s affection.
Our work is supported by United Board, The Bridge Fund, and the Alex Hillman Family Foundation.
