Tibetan Folk Instruments - dolina_bartanga — LiveJournal. Oriental musical instruments - Buddhist bells, Tibetan pipes, ethnic drums, jew's harps Treatment with singing bowls or human impact
Sergey Gabbasov
History and classification of Tibetan folk musical instruments
The area where ethnic Tibetans live is much larger than the Tibetan Plateau, which is traditionally associated with "classical" Tibet. Bearers of Tibetan culture, peoples of the Sino-Tibetan and Tibeto-Burmese language groups also live in Nepal - the kingdom of Lo-Mustang ( bLo ), and in the kingdom of Bhutan, and in Ladakh (northeast India). Thus, a rather vast region is occupied by Tibetan culture. Central Asia. Tibetan culture itself is very homogeneous throughout its distribution, having differences in language, material culture(clothing - its cut and ornamentation, the type of dwelling and its architectural features), while having relative uniformity in the types of economic activity and traditional activities, vehicles, religion and its features, mythology, folklore, music.
It is about music, more precisely about folk musical instruments, that will be discussed in this article.
Tibetan music has a clear division into folk and religious (liturgical). Folk music has a much greater heterogeneity in the regions where Tibetan culture is spread, and the manner of performance, character musical works, melody, rhythm, and instrumentation. Liturgical music is "fixed" by the canons of performance and is found in the form of liturgical music of Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism) outside the spread of Tibetan culture as such - in Mongolia, Buryatia, Tuva, Kalmykia.
Musical instruments are either imported or autochthonous. The brought tools began to appear in the places where the Tibetan culture was spread with the beginning of contacts with other peoples, primarily with India and China (mainly on the basis of Buddhism). In this case, there are very, very few original Tibetan instruments.
First, consider the instruments of folk, non-religious music.
The most famous and widespread Tibetan folk instrument is the "dramien" ( dramyen ), Tibetan lute. Distributed everywhere. The closest analogues are rubab, tar, setar Central Asia and the Middle East.
The next tool is transverse flute"telin" ( khred gling ). Similar instruments are widespread in India and Nepal (bansuri), Central Asia (nai) and China.
Another instrument is paired timpani made of clay. The closest analogues are tablak in Central Asia, dholak in India.
These three musical instruments make up the main, if not the only instrument of Tibetan folk music. As you can see, it's pretty scarce.
Now consider liturgical musical instruments. There is much more variety here. Many of these instruments are still sometimes used in everyday life outside of religious ceremonies. An indication of an analogy only leads a parallel with a similar instrument from another people, and an indication of the origin - that it is known that the instrument is not local.
- "Dongchen"(dung chen ) - a long metal (copper or copper-nickel) pipe with a socket at the end. In length from 1.5 to 6 meters, in addition to religious rites, it is used during folk holidays. IN this case it is not clear whether this is a vestige of a pre-existing tradition of performing folk (non-liturgical) music on the dunchen, or whether it is a new formation. The closest analogue is the Tajik "sornai" (a long metal pipe with a bell at the end). It is quite possible that the Dunchen is a direct descendant of the weed, given that the Tibetan Bon religion took quite a lot from the country of Tagzig, which included modern Tajikistan.
- "Radung"(ra dung) - a kind of dungchen with a wider bell.
- "Nga"(rnga ), Also " lag nga" ( lag rnga )," har nga"(khar rnga ) - a flat double-sided drum, which is played with a special curved beater, usually tied to the ceiling or placed on a stand. Sometimes used during folk holidays.
- "Silnjen"(sil snyen) - flat plates. When playing, they are held vertically. Sometimes used during folk holidays. Similar analogues are in China.
- "Rolmo" (roll mo) or " boop"(sbu b ) - plates with bulges in the middle. Keep horizontal when playing. Analogues of the instrument are in Nepal, India, but the tradition of playing differs significantly.
- "Zurna"(bsu rna ), or " gyalin"(rgya ling), a kind of oboe, according to musicological classification, belongs to folk shawls. The closest analogues are the zurnas of Central Asia and the Middle East. It is believed (including by the Tibetans themselves) that this instrument "came" from Iran (which, in principle, it can be seen from the name - the Persian word "zurna"). Although instruments of this class are also found in India. It is widely used in liturgical music (one of the main musical instruments of the ritual music of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon) and folk music(often accompanied by timpani).
- "Shang"(gzhang) - a flat bell, when played, it is clamped in the palm of your hand with an extension upwards and sways from side to side so that the tongue tied with a rope to the center hits the edges. There are no analogues of this instrument, as well as the tradition of playing it.
- "Nga chen"(rnga "chen ) - big drum, which is beaten during worship, when the whole community gathers, and sometimes this drum is beaten on the roof of the temple to call the monks.
- "Genpo" (mgon po ) - a small drum used for worship in temples dedicated to protective deities (yidams).
-"G andi"- a long wooden board made of sandalwood. According to V. Suzukei, the length of the gandhi is about 2.5 m, the width is no more than 15 cm, the thickness is about 6 cm. made of sandalwood. When playing, the gandhi is taken on the left shoulder and supported by the left hand, the stick is in the right hand." Only special lamas could play the gandhi, calling the rest to worship with signals. Emphasizing the sacredness of the instrument, V. Suzukei points to its use as a mechanism management everyday life people. “Religious dogmatics, the ritualism of Lamaism, the pantheon of deities, mythology and the pandemonium of evil spirits that the ritual actions of most rites are aimed at propitiating, intimidating and suppressing - in this whole complex system, musical instruments are also of no small importance, the sounds of which have ambiguous symbolism, intertwined with the entire body gods, demons and evil spirits invoked with the help of music for ritual treats and suppression.
The following instruments are purely liturgical, but no longer of local origin, brought in.
- "Damaru"(da ma ru ) - a double-sided drum, shaped like an hourglass, with two balls on strings attached to the narrowing point. When playing, the drum is held horizontally and rotated alternately in one direction or the other, ensuring that the ball on the ropes hits the membranes. It is believed, including by the Tibetans themselves, that this instrument was brought from India, as well as
- "Kanlin" (rkang gling ) - a pipe made of human tibia or metal (copper or copper-nickel alloy).
- "kandung" (rkang dung ) is an instrument that differs from the kanlin in that it has a telescopic knee that increases its length. This instrument is a Tibetan modification of the introduced kallin; a kind of hybrid with dongchen.
- "Dilba"(drillbu ) - a bell with a handle, often in the form of a vajra. There are two styles of playing this bell - simple (swinging from side to side) and playing with a beater (a wooden beater is driven along the lower rim of the bell, causing it to vibrate and resonate). It is believed, including by the Tibetans themselves, that this instrument was brought from India.
- "Dunkar"(dung dkar) - a shell. It is of Indian origin, made either with a metal mouthpiece (for this it is set in metal and glued with sealing wax), or the natural form is left.
- "Tin-shang"(ting gzhang ) - small flat, slightly convex metal plates. They are of Indian origin (from the Indian instrument "karataly")
- "Gyal nga" (rgyal rnga), "har nga" (khar rnga listen)) is a gong used to strike the hours during monastic gatherings. It has an Indian origin, where it performs the same function.
- "Carlin"(kar gling ) is a wind instrument of Chinese origin, used on holidays. It is played on the upper floors of the temple. The presence of musical instruments of Chinese origin is explained by long contacts with the Chinese Buddhist school, as well as
- "Bupag"(sbu phag ) is a trumpet of Chinese origin and
- "Ratin" (draw ting ) is an instrument consisting of nine gongs played by two drummers.
The fact that these instruments are exclusively liturgical proves once again that they are not autochthonous; they were borrowed specifically for certain (also borrowed) rituals.
Some of these instruments are used very little (in the sense of their parts in the liturgy are very small), and on some, on the contrary, they play almost the entire liturgy. Some are generally used only in certain practices and cases, while each monastery and sect has its own peculiarities of instrumentation for each liturgy and features of playing and making (and designing) instruments.
If you try to make a list of primordially Tibetan musical instruments, you get the following picture:
- "rolmo" (rol mo) or "boop" (sbub),- "dungchen" (dung chen),
- "radung" (ra dung),
- "nga" (rnga), "nga chen" (rnga" chen), "genpo" (mgon po),
- "shang" (gzhang)
- "gandhi"
About the rest of the instruments, one can say that either it is known for sure that they were not originally Tibetan, or there is such an assumption.
It is very interesting that these are all liturgical instruments, and not folk ones. Apparently, this happened due to the fact that the canons "conserve" liturgical instruments, while folk instruments are not canonized and are subject to any foreign influences.
But that doesn't mean the rest tibetan instruments are borrowed. It is quite possible that they are simply common for the peoples of the Himalayas, India and China as for the peoples of one region of Asia. And the listed tools are unique to Tibetans.
Musical instruments
There are several musical instruments used in ritual ceremonies in Tibetan Buddhism. Among them: Ra-dang or Dang Chen, Nga, Nga Chen, Gyaling, Kangdung, Sil-Nyan.
A trumpet, a prototype of the western flute, made of very hard wood such as teak or rosewood with eight playing holes. It is usually adorned with seven metal rings. precious stones. The trumpet is blown so that the sound is not interrupted. During religious ceremonies, the monks have to do this for half an hour non-stop.
There are 2 types of Nga drums. The first (hand drum), it is used during ritual processions. The drum is long, decorated with 1 thread wooden handle, at the end of which is a vajra. Sometimes a silk scarf is tied on the handle as a symbol of reverence for the divine musical instrument.
Its diameter is over three feet. The drum hangs inside a wooden frame. An image of a lotus is also used as decoration. The drum stick has a curved shape, at the end it is covered with fabric for greater softness when struck.
Kangdung. This trumpet is used to express reverence and admiration for peaceful deities. It is made of copper, decorated with wood carvings and gilding. At the beginning of each section of a large collective ritual, all musical instruments are played loudly in the monastery.
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Country Russia
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Directed by: Golden Age
Quality: VHSRip
Format: AVI
Duration: 01:00:00
Size: 705 Mb
Description: The film tells about spiritual experience in line with the Buddhist tradition, about the highest possibility of the human spirit, about insight, about sacred knowledge, meditation and Buddhist symbols. For any audience.
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Recently, I happened to hear the sound of outlandish musical instruments, the sound of which the body hears not with the ears, but with every cell of its body.
Singing bowls emit healing vibrations of sounds that coincide with the vibrations of body cells and restore energy, healing both body and soul.
Healers call the therapeutic effect of sounds vibration massage, which has at least healing properties, in comparison with other species.
How these ancient tools were used before is unknown. Since there are no written descriptions. But the history of art has preserved ancient images in paintings and sculptural sculptures, where these tools appear. And the instruments themselves are found in private collections dating back to the 5th-6th centuries. Scientists suggest that they could have appeared even earlier, like the bronze bells that were produced as early as the 9th century BC. e.
What are singing bowls
There are other names for these musical instruments: Himalayan or Tibetan bowls, and in Japan they are considered a type of bell. But they differ from the bell in that they are not suspended and not mounted on a stand. The origin of sound in them comes from a light blow with a mallet, which creates vibrations of the walls of the bowl itself.
This instrument has been used since antiquity in Asian religious culture. Now, in addition to being used in religious traditions, the instrument has found application in media practices, relaxation and meditation, and is widely used in yoga.
Instruments are made in India and Nepal, Tibet, Japan and Korea, while the main production is concentrated in the Himalayas, hence the name Tibetan singing bowls. The unique sound of these instruments captivates the soul and heals the body.
What are musical instruments made of?
According to ancient traditions, the composition of the alloy includes 7 metals, but depending on the country of origin, this composition may vary slightly. Tibetan-made bowls contain:
- up to 0.0001% gold (Sun)
- and 0.002% silver (Moon);
- up to 0.3% iron (Mars)
- and 71.3% copper (Venus);
- up to 28.6% tin (Jupiter)
- and 0.001% lead (Saturn),
- up to 0.01% mercury (Mercury).
Lead and mercury are present in very small amounts, so they do not cause harm to health, if the color of the bowl has a gray tint, then they contain more iron. There is a belief that meteorite metal was used in the alloys of ancient bowls.
An alloy of different metals that differ in their physical properties, allows you to create a complex picture of the sound of harmonic overtones (overtones). With the harmonic sounding of the overtones of Tibetan singing bowls, a scale of sounds is created, consisting of 10-16 overtones.
modern bowls
Interest in these instruments is growing, tourists buy bowls as souvenirs, so manufacturers began to paint them with spiritual motifs, religious symbols with the image of Buddha, and Buddhist mantras.
The composition of the metal alloy has also changed, more often they are made of bronze, without the inclusion of precious metals. If you happen to make a purchase, look for handmade bowls that sound close to the ancient ones. Better bowls are made in Japan and Korea, but not for export.
Tibetan machine-made singing bowls suffer from poor sounding, with only two harmonic overtones, which is frustrating for today's musicians.
Instruments are produced in different diameters; both large (up to 2 meters) and small bowls (up to 10 cm) are used in religious ceremonies. The smaller the bowl, the higher its sound. The most beautiful sound is extracted from medium-sized instruments, with a diameter of about 20 cm. It is more difficult to extract vibration from small bowls and their sound is weak.
Listen to Tibetan singing bowls
How are sounds extracted? To extract sounds, wooden or plastic beaters, sticks, and pestles are used. The musician extracts sounds by light blows on the wall of the bowl or by leisurely driving along the edges of the bowl with a plastic or wooden pestle.
The depth of sound depends not only on the alloys from which the bowl is made, but also on the accessories used (sticks, beaters, pestles). They have different origins:
- some are made of metal and the sound from them is sonorous, clear and sharp;
- others made of hardwood or plastic, with a softer sound;
- some sticks are wrapped in soft materials (suede or felt), especially for muffled sounds that have a soothing effect.
Tools are selected according to the size of the bowl, so what they are made of and their hardness are taken into account. Heavy sticks are used for large bowls, and light sticks are used for small ones.
Filling the bowl with water allows you to diversify the sound, moreover, healing music It turns out different tonality depending on how much water is poured into it. A full bowl makes muffled sounds.
Interesting… Scientific research with high-speed shooting recorded the formation on the surface of the water (during the sound of the bowls), concentric waves caused by the vibrations of the walls of the vessels. And if the amplitude of the sounds increases, then a storm of waves is formed, which tear against the walls of the vessel and scatter in numerous sprays. The movement of water particles over the entire surface of the bowl is noted.
Healing music, born from the friction of the stick and the walls of the vessel, is surrounded by a harmonious range of overtones (overtones). Listen for yourself by clicking on the link: listen
The beauty and strength of the sound and its surroundings with subsounds depend on the quality of the bowl (its composition). By pressing the stick on the edge of the bowl, you can change the tone of the sound.
With a slight blow with a stick wrapped in a layer of suede on the walls of the bowl, a completely different sound is born, a bit reminiscent of the ringing of a bell: listen
The sounds of the bowls are very peculiar, the vibrating series of subsounds creates vibrations consonant with the vibrations of the cells of the body, so it seems that they penetrate into the soul.
In the past, they were used not only for treatment, but also to change the consciousness of a person. In Buddhist temples, bowls were used during prayers. Now they have gained popularity in the new direction of new age music, rock, neoclassical, ethnic music.
Treatment with singing bowls or human impact
Despite the softness and delicacy of sound, these instruments have a strong influence on the vibrations of every cell of the human body, which was noticed in ancient times. And Buddhists used this type of treatment in their rituals.
Watch the video on how the sounds are extracted from the bowls:
Research confirms that vibration sounds contribute to:
- liberation of a person from neurosis and stress,
- relieve tension in the muscles and body,
- eliminate energy blocks and complexes,
- restore disturbed harmony at the cellular level,
- balance the thought process
- improve concentration,
- align breathing,
- normalize blood pressure
- strengthen the immune system.
The sound leads to the synchronous work of both hemispheres of the brain, which increases Creative skills person. It helps to completely relax both emotionally and physically, which leads to getting rid of insomnia.
Energy massage with singing bowls
This is an unusual type of massage that takes place at the level of sound vibrations. It turns out that sound waves have a strong massage effect that affects the cellular level.
To enhance the impact, the bowls are placed directly on the body of a lying person. When they are placed around, their sound relieves tension, helps to relax and restore the energy forces of the body.
Healing bowls are arranged in a certain sequence: medium-sized instruments and small diameters that make sonorous and high sounds are placed closer to the head, and large bowls, splashing out deep sounds, are placed at the feet.
Experts say that when the singing bowl is moved over the human body, it changes its sound where there are any problems inside the body, as evidenced by the stagnation of energy.
It is recommended to hold the bowl a little longer, in this place, lightly hitting it with a stick, absorbing the vibrations of sounds, the human energy returns to normal. When the sound of the bowl takes on its original tone, this is a sign that the stagnation has been eliminated.
In this section you can buy oriental musical instruments, Tibetan pipes, Buddhist instruments, bells, jew's harps, unusual musical instruments.
Tibetan pipes
Tibetan pipes different in diameter and length. There are small and long pipes (up to 3 meters). Also popular Buddhist shells- unusual musical instrument, which emits a piercing and strong sound, richly decorated with embossing and stones. Buddhist shells also vary in size and length. Except Tibetan pipes and shells also presented kartals, arc-shaped trumpets, flutes, gongs and horns.
ethnic drums
You can buy from us ethnic drums- Unusual tools on the handle and in the frame. The drums are very beautifully made - they are decorated with paintings, the frames and wooden parts of the drums are decorated with carvings. Ethnic drums vary in sound and diameter.
Buddhist damaru drums
In stock Buddhist drums for practices - damaru. Damaru also have different sizes. Tambourines and gongs are also available.
Buddhist bells
With us you can buy buddhist bells with vajars. Buddhist bells different in size, sound and quality. Tibetan bells can also be purchased with a case.
Vargans
We also have an assortment jew's harps, hokosas, ocarins, bugles.
You can buy a Tibetan harp, Potkin's harp, a harp with three tongues and etc.
