Gyaling
Encyclopedia
The gyaling is a double reed
shawm
traditional to Tibet
. It is used specifically in Tibetan monasteries during puja (chanting and prayer) and is associated with peaceful deities and the idea of devotion.
To play a gyaling requires a technique called circular breathing
, in which the instrument will constantly be emitting a linear sound. The reed is fully submerged in the player’s mouth but does not touch it; the lips are pressed against the flat metal channel below the reed. A gyaling player tune
s the instrument with the breath. The way of playing a gyaling varies depending on the lineage and ritual.
ritual orchestra consists of a gyaling, dungchen
, kangling
, dungkar (conch shells), drillbu
(handbells), silnyen
(vertical cymbals), and most importantly, chanting. Together, the music creates a state of mind to invite or summon deities.
Oftentimes, the style of performance is similar to that of a bagpipe, with many short and fast neighbor tones.
Double reed
A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. The term double reed comes from the fact that there are two pieces of cane vibrating against each other. A single reed consists of one piece of cane which vibrates against a mouthpiece made of metal, hardened...
shawm
Shawm
The shawm was a medieval and Renaissance musical instrument of the woodwind family made in Europe from the 12th century until the 17th century. It was developed from the oriental zurna and is the predecessor of the modern oboe. The body of the shawm was usually turned from a single piece of wood,...
traditional to Tibet
Music of Tibet
The music of Tibet reflects the cultural heritage of the trans-Himalayan region, centered in Tibet but also known wherever ethnic Tibetan groups are found in India, Bhutan, Nepal and further abroad...
. It is used specifically in Tibetan monasteries during puja (chanting and prayer) and is associated with peaceful deities and the idea of devotion.
Design
The gyaling is oboe-like in appearance with a long hardwood body and copper brass bell. Throughout the instrument are ornate embellishments of colored glass. The double reed, which is made from a single stem of marsh grass, is placed upon a small metal channel that protrudes out of the top. There are eight (8) fingerholes on a standard gyaling.To play a gyaling requires a technique called circular breathing
Circular breathing
Circular breathing is a technique used by players of some wind instruments to produce a continuous tone without interruption. This is accomplished by breathing in through the nose while simultaneously pushing air out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks.It is used extensively in playing...
, in which the instrument will constantly be emitting a linear sound. The reed is fully submerged in the player’s mouth but does not touch it; the lips are pressed against the flat metal channel below the reed. A gyaling player tune
Musical tuning
In music, there are two common meanings for tuning:* Tuning practice, the act of tuning an instrument or voice.* Tuning systems, the various systems of pitches used to tune an instrument, and their theoretical bases.-Tuning practice:...
s the instrument with the breath. The way of playing a gyaling varies depending on the lineage and ritual.
Usage in Ritual
A typical Tibetan BuddhistTibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
ritual orchestra consists of a gyaling, dungchen
Dungchen
The dungchen is a long trumpet or horn used in Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies. It is the most widely used instrument in Tibetan Buddhist culture. It is often played in pairs or multiples, and the sound is compared to the singing of elephants...
, kangling
Kangling
Kangling is the Tibetan word for a trumpet or horn made out of a human thighbone, used in Himalayan Buddhist funeral rituals. The femur of a criminal or a person who died a violent death is preferred....
, dungkar (conch shells), drillbu
Handbell
A handbell is a bell designed to be rung by hand. To ring a handbell, a ringer grasps the bell by its slightly flexible handle — traditionally made of leather, but often now made of plastic — and moves the wrist to make the hinged clapper inside the bell strike...
(handbells), silnyen
Silnyen
The silnyen is a Tibetan percussion instrument in the form of a cymbal with a small or no central boss. The silnyen is struck by horizontal movement and is used in Buddhist rites....
(vertical cymbals), and most importantly, chanting. Together, the music creates a state of mind to invite or summon deities.
Oftentimes, the style of performance is similar to that of a bagpipe, with many short and fast neighbor tones.