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American Folklife Center Collections: Tibet

This guide provides access to ethnographic resources documenting Tibetan expressive culture in Tibet and the Tibetan diaspora in the collections of the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Introduction

American Folklife Center collections from Tibet document the diversity of its expressive culture. This guide provides access to ethnographic resources documenting Tibetan expressive culture in Tibet and in the Tibetan diaspora in the collections of the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Among its unique collections are ethnographic recordings of Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies in India by John W. Moyer, recordings of music collected in communities of Tibetans in various countries outside Tibet made by David Lewiston, and performances of Tibetan music at concerts and festivals in the United States.

Featured Video

The following is a virtual concert recorded for the Library of Congress by Tenzin Choegyal in 2021. Tennzin Choegyal is a Tibetan/Australian artist, composer, activist, musical director and cultural ambassador, widely considered one of the world's finest musicians with Tibetan heritage. He feels a particular connection to the music of the high Himalayan plateau and, as a son of Tibetan nomads, he remains dedicated to preserving the musical traditions of his ancestors. Choegyal is a master of the lingbu (bamboo flute) and the dranyen (three-stringed lute) but is best known for his extraordinary vocal ability and performance of droklu, the nomadic music of his parents. Choegyal's original compositions are inspired by Buddhist texts and poetry, traditional nomadic songs and playful folk tunes that reflect the experiences of the Tibetan people. He also embraces opportunities to take his music into more contemporary, uncharted territory, both in the studio and on stage. (Event Date June 30, 2021)

Collections of Interest

The following materials link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to digital content are provided when available.

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