"Even in this small Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas, music plays a big role."
"Sing to the Lord a new song... Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples."
Psalm 96:1a, 3(NIV)
Music in South Asia
Bhutan
Even in this small Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas, music plays a big role. There are three main musical types present in Bhutanese society:
- Zhungdra – Sung mostly by groups of men, Zhungdra has a slow, drone-like quality. With lyrics about daily life, nature and religion, sometimes it is accompanied with a yangchin, which is similar to a hammered dulcimer.
- Boedra – This type is more popular. Men and women usually sing boedra in mixed groups to a variety of instruments, including the yangchin, the dramnyen (a seven-stringed instrument), and the lingm (flute), but usually no drums. Sung in faster tempo, the songs speak of pride for king and country, Buddhist gods and goddesses, and a variety of other subjects.
- Rigsar – This type of music appeared in the 1980s and remains popular, combining Bhutanese melodies with more Western instruments. Rigsar describes most Bhutanese pop music.
Use the menu to the left to learn more about
music in other South Asia countries.
The South Asia Region is an entity of the
International Mission Board
(SBC)
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