Despite China’s five-decade occupation of Tibet, the centuries-old spiritual and cultural traditions of the country sometimes referred to as the Rooftop of World have managed to endure to the present day. And, this week, a group of musicians from the land of snowtopped peaks and brightly colored prayer wheels bring a taste of Tibet to Moscow.
Seven Buddhist monks from Tibet’s Gyudmed tantric monastery give two performances — on Tuesday at the Norbekov Institute (of self-help consultant Mirzakarim Norbekov) and on Wednesday at the School of Dramatic Art on Povarskaya — of ancient polyphonic vocal music, in a program called “Healing Sounds of the Universe.”
Founded in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa in 1433 and based since 1959 both in Lhasa and in India, the Gyudmed monastery is known throughout the world for the prayer rituals, healing ceremonies and artwork of its monks. Although the monastery in Lhasa continues limited operations to this day, since 1972 it has sent the majority of its monks to India for religious training and residency. The members of the musical group that visits Moscow this week also reside in India.
The monks — group leader Lobsang Tsering; chief vocalist Damjo Nima, the chief vocalist; and backup vocalists Gedun Kalsang, Thupten Shakya, Tenzin Thinley, Lobsang Dorjee and Lobsang Tenzing –perform with backup by an orchestra of traditional Tibetan instruments that include a dung chen, or long brass horn; bronze cymbals, bells and large drums. The program consists entirely of ceremonial songs that are intended to help the singer to achieve a heightened spiritual awareness.
Healing Sounds of the Universe (Istselyayushchiye Zvuki Vselennoi) begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Norbekov Institute (7 Ulitsa Melnikova. Metro Proletarskaya. Tel. 921-7755) and at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the School of Dramatic Art on Povarskaya (20 Povarskaya Ulitsa. Metro Arbatskaya, Barrikadnaya. Tel. 290-4796, 923-6204). Reservations are recommended for both shows.
