Bhutan lost a maestro of musical and cultural legend

Rinzin Wangchuk

Famend Bhutanese singer, dancer and musician, Ap Dawpel will probably be remembered by the individuals of Bhutan, particularly his college students, as an unparalleled maestro of folks music devices and efficiency of conventional Zhungdra songs.

Druk Thuksey (Coronary heart Son of Bhutan) medal recipient, Ap Dawpel handed away at his residence in Motithang, Thimphu on September 28. He was 91.

A relative of Ap Dawpel stated that Jojo (nice grandfather) was not nicely due to his previous age. “Regardless of his poor well being, Jojo used to sing “Thrungla Ya Ya” (a standard music devoted to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel) when his followers and well-wishers got here to see him,” she stated.

From Talo Nobgang, Ap Dawpel’s actual identify was Dawa Peljor additionally referred to as Kinzang Tshering when he was a masks dancer on the Punakha Dzong.

Ap Dawpel, who picked up his flute on the age of 9,  spent the remainder of his life with folks musical instruments- lim (flute), chiwang (violin), and dranyen (lute).

Ethnocologist Jigme Drukpa and musician Kheng Sonam Dorji, each college students of Ap Dawpel, described their grasp as an incredible artist and  distinguished folks musician within the nation.  They keep in mind him as essentially the most esteemed ambassador of music in Bhutan.

“As a Bhutanese musician and composer, Ap Dawpel was finest identified for popularising the Bhutanese folks instrument dranyen everywhere in the world. Bhutan undoubtedly misplaced a grasp,” Kheng Sonam Dorji stated.

He stated that Ap Dawpel’s shows of music, belonging to the home of Talo dangrem model, have been very pure and genuine.

“Ap Dawpel was an individual, wholly immersed into music, who by no means competed with or had reserves about another musician.”

Calling the late maestro Apa, Jigme Drukpa stated that Apa was a deeply non secular particular person with a excessive sense of humour, wit and readability about all issues he did. He was a easy man and needed no materials possessions, however can be out to battle in opposition to anybody if he knew he wasn’t incorrect.

“Bhutan misplaced an unparalleled maestro of folks music devices, folks and masks dances, portray, embroidery, music writing, storytelling and efficiency of zhungdra songs,” Jigme Drukpa stated.

Ap Dawpel’s contributions

After 58 years into folks music, Ap Dawpel’s contribution in preserving conventional music in Bhutan was recognised when His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo awarded him the Druk Thuksey medal on June 2, 1999. After receiving the award, Ap Dawpel stated that he bought the award due to the blessings of Lhamo Yangchenma (Goddess of music and knowledge).

As a younger boy from Talo, Ap Dawpel’s mother and father enrolled him into the clergy. On the age of 18 he started taking part in the flute out of his personal private curiosity. He had stated that nobody taught him tips on how to play.

Quickly, he was recruited for a music group assembled in Dechenphodrang. At the same time as a younger monk, he was typically referred to as to play for the Royal Bhutan Military band. He left the clergy on the age of 23 and it was then that he discovered to play the dranyen, and took to zhungdra songs from his instructor and good friend Sewla Pem Dorji.

Ap Dawpel’s life took a flip when, at 25, he began work as a painter due to his kikhor instructor within the clergy. Through the renovation of the Tashichhodzong within the Nineteen Sixties he was nominated as a grasp painter and he continued portray for about 25 years earlier than he lastly retired.

Ap Dawpel had entertained friends like late Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru and his grandson, Rajiv Gandhi, throughout their State visits to Bhutan. His music supplies the background for the movie on Prime Minister Nehru’s go to to Bhutan and different movies.

A few of Ap Dawpel’s well-known songs have been Lhasa Norbuling la, Gesar Janglu Joenbe Gang, and Tashi Laso. He additionally launched many dranyen  solo albums.

Ap Dawpel, who was instrumental in propagating zhungdra and dhang (tune), married 3 times, his first on the age of 25, and had a daughter from every.