Ritual Instruments
The Long Horn Dung-Chen
The Long Horn Or Dung-Chen is a unique Tibetan traditional ritual music instrument made from brass trumpet, which is also known as Rag Dung in Tibetan. The tradition of this ritual instrument was started in year 1040 A.D and it was played as invitation music for inviting Atisha, one of the great Indian Buddhist Masters who was invited by Lha-Tsun Jang Chup-Woe to preach Buddhism in Tibet.
The Dun-Chen is always played in pairs, and usually measure around ten to twelve feet in length. For portability, it is fashioned of four or five separate sections which telescope into each other.
Gya-Ling The Tibetan Reed Shawm
The Gya-Ling as known in Tibetan Language is one the traditional ritual instrument made from a hardwood bore, such as teak or black rosewood. It is a type of flute instrument derived from Indian tradition and named Gya-Ling with reference to its source. It is highly decorated with an elaborate, gilded copper, bell-shaped trumpet end, and a reed mouthpiece with a small resonator made of beaten metal.
It has seven holes at the front and one at the back, quite similar to the Western recorder and its wooden bore is decorated with copper wire, coiled between each holes. Like the long horns, the Gya-Ling is also played in pairs.
Kang Ling: The short Tibetan Horn
The short Tibetan Horn or Kang-Ling is another type of flute ritual instrument that bears same name as the human thighbone trumpet, yet as a monastic instrument it is usually made from beaten brass like long horn, but much smaller in measurement. It is highly decorated with a makara head near the horn end. Its mouthpiece is either rounded like the thighbone trumpet, or has a circular lipped mouthpiece. It is also plays in pairs and is used in both peaceful and wrathful rituals.
Cymbals: Sil Nyan and Bub
These two types of Cymbals are one of the important ritual instruments use for both peaceful and wrathful ritual ceremonies. The smaller pair of Cymbals “Sil Nyan†is the flat cymbals with a low central boss, which are held vertically when playing. The larger pairs of Cymbals “sBub†are held horizontally and mainly use in the rites of wrathful deities. Both pair of Cymbals have cloth handles issuing from their centers, and are played with clashing, rolling, rotating and muting techniques.
The Ritual Drum: Choe-Nga
The Ritual Drum Choe-Nga is used for both monastic rites of peaceful and wrathful deities along with other ritual instruments. There are a few types of ritual drums, such as the ceremonial drum, the large drum and the small drum. These ritual drums are decorated with silk scarf and paintings. A pair of wooden sickle-shaped drumsticks is use for beating these drums and the drumstick has a padded skin tip and handle.
Kardung
