Singing the Village

This is a highly readable account of the musical and ritual life of the Sibe people, who have lived in the remote, desert region of Chinese Central Asia since the eighteenth century. Descendants of the military garrisons of Imperial China, they remember their heritage through song; and through song they communicate with their ancestors, aided by their powerful shamans. The book describes contemporary musical life in the Sibe villages, and discusses the impact of fifty years of Communism on their unique culture. Samples of the music appear both in the book and on the free audio CD.