Music and Dances of Central Nepal

In this book, performer, educator, and writer Subi Shah presents an essential commentary and analysis of Himalayan folk music and performance. Having documented his musical tradition since the 1960s, Shah has created in-depth analyses of song, dance, music, poetry, and drama within their local and spiritual contexts. Shah’s detailed contribution to this field is invaluable reading for students, scholars, and musicians alike.

Music and Dances of Central Nepal is the first English translation of Shah’s works. This collection includes three published works— Madal, “Pangdure (Maruni) Folk Dances”, and Glimpses of Nepali Folk Music—and three unpublished manuscripts— Introduction to Nepali Tunes, Sorati, and Basic Theory of Folk Dance.

This book stays true to Shah’s voice and style, equipping the reader with the translated text, and tools such as audio and video examples, musical scores, and glossaries, which enrich our understanding of Himalayan performance.

In keeping with Shah’s intentions to make his work available to all, and to keep these traditions of Himalayan folk music and performance alive, these highly accessible translations will be a valuable resource for a larger readership to explore this field. In doing so, this book makes an effort to decolonise ethnomusicology through the promotion of a Nepali artist’s theories and analysis within a Himalayan tradition.