Title Hmong musicians in America / as told by Amy Catlin ; [produced and directed] by Amy Catlin and Nazir Jairazbhoy ; written, edited, and narrated by Amy Catlin

Published Van Nuys, CA : Apsara Media for Intercultural Education, 1997

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Description 1 online resource (62 min.) Summary This 58-minute video tells the story of two senior musicians from Laos who play instruments and sing for a variety of American audiences, adapting their presentations for Hmong and non-Hmong listeners of all ages. The first-person narrative by U.C.L.A. ethnomusicologist Amy Catlin interweaves footage from Rhode Island, Fresno, San Diego, Santa Ana, and Laos, including: Hmong New Year festivals, courtship dialog songs, Lao lamleuang folk opera, Lao mohlam folksong with khen accompaniment, school classrooms, and a TV sitcom representation of a Hmong healer in an American hospital. A social history of the Hmong from China to Laos to America unfolds, illustrated by Hmong music, drawings and embroideries, archival photos, maps, and interviews. Subtitles translate song texts and illuminate Hmong "thought-songs" played on free-reed pipes, mouth organs, jew's harps, banana leaves, flutes, and fiddles. The story concludes by returning to the deceased musician's children and grandchildren after an eleven-year hiatus, to give them copies of the original footage. The family members reflect on their experience of "generation loss" in Hmong music and culture, and express the hope that Hmong music will continue in America Notes Title from resource description page (viewed May 25, 2017) In English Subject Hmong Americans -- Music Hmong Americans -- Social life and customs Hmong (Asian people) -- Music Hmong (Asian people) -- Social life and customs Music -- United States -- History and criticism Music -- Laos -- History and criticism Immigrants -- United States -- History Refugees -- United States -- History Musicians -- United States. Hmong Americans. Hmong Americans -- Social life and customs. Hmong (Asian people) Hmong (Asian people) -- Social life and customs. Immigrants. Music. Musicians. Refugees. Laos. United States. Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc. Documentary films. Ethnographic films. History. Music. Documentary films. Ethnographic films. Documentaires. Films ethnographiques. Form Streaming video Author Catlin-Jairazbhoy, Amy, producer, director, screenwriter, narrator Jairazbhoy, Nazir Ali, 1927-2009, producer, director. Apsara Media for Intercultural Education (Firm), publisher.

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