Tibetan Buddhist Rites from the Monasteries of Bhutan Sub Rosa 2005
Recorded in 1971 by John Levy, a British ethnomusicologist who embraced Buddhism and
was granted access to temples and rites in situ, so to speak. Strikingly beautiful, these pieces
are remastered and digitally recorded anew for this 2-CD set. Presented are large ensemble
and solo chants, instrumental rites, and everyday sounds (such as the tea call).
Faves: CD1: 6,9,11,15,16,19,20 CD2: 4,6,9,13,20 (Dr D 06-05)
(All track titles on back of case)
CD 1
Part 1
1.(5:40) Large ensemble vox and instruments 13(1:48) Vox only, lay monks
2.(1:22) Vox only 14 (1:37) Solo vox w. struck bell
3.(5:07) similar to #1 15 (3:06) Large ens. Female nuns chanting
4.(1:35) 2 long trumpets, ‘tea call’ 16(2:19) Vox only, female nuns
5.(0:45) long trumpets again. Interval between dances 17(1:37) Two shawms only, processional music
6.(3:05) Large ensemble, fast pace 18(3:23) Shawms, gong, drum. Processional music
7.(4:23) Vox only, slow 19(2:39) Two ‘Long Trumpets’ signal the end of series
8.(3:04) Large ensemble, measured pace med Part 2: Ritual Dance Music
9.(3:57) Large ensemble; drum break; metal sounds 20(2:57) Whistling begins, 2 drums, cymbals
10.(1:03) Chant w. handbell, done each morning 21(3:52) 16 dancers, all playing small drum; cymbals
11.(1:16) Vox only, 6-7 monks, interesting harmony 22(2:30) Chanting, drums, cymbals, shawms, trumpets
12.(1:14) Vox only, prep for spiritual instruction 23(9:06) Slow, portentous chant builds in intensity end 24(5:26) Large ens chants, shawms, trumpets, drums
CD 2
Part 2 Continued 10.(1:23) Vox only, soft, melodic
1.(6:38) Interesting pellet drums; no vox exc. way in bkgnd 11.(2:13) No music; crowd noises, chanting, laughing
2.(6:32) Large ens; long pause (2:47-3:02); quiet, moody 12.(2:12) Another public ceremony, with music added
3.(5:01) Large ens, no vox, one pellet drum 13.(2:09) Loud chants, exuberant, crowd noise, horns
4.(2:49) Vox only, 16 monks, melodic entreaty to Buddhas 14.(2:48) End of festival; bells and lg drum, chants
5.(2:19) 2 shawms, a folk song about sheep and wool 15.(4:46) Single monk reciting poem by Milarepa
Part 3: Temple Rituals and Public Ceremonies 16.(0:24) very short poem spoken by monk
6.(10:17) splashy, vox and instruments alternate in parts 17.(0:53) Pair of cymbals held and struck together
7.(3:16) chants and music very subdued, just drum until end 18.(2:19)a ‘cross-flute’, played here in upper register
8.(5:26) monks go in circles around the altar; vox at ~4 min. in 19.(2:43) Single monk sings another Milarepa poem
9.(3:58) Lute begins, monks come in at 2 min, melodic, pretty 20.(1:46) Powerful voice sings a travelogue song