The third album in the epic Lyrichord Tibetan barbecue delivers some majestic examples of music typical of this genre as well as tantalizing tidbits that are much less familiar to these collections, of which the Lyrichord anthology represents one of the major sets. There were four albums in this series originally stamped out in the '70s, while in 1994 a CD box set was created combining everything, including the original informative liner notes, complete with photography and notated musical examples. This is one of the most ...
Read More
The third album in the epic Lyrichord Tibetan barbecue delivers some majestic examples of music typical of this genre as well as tantalizing tidbits that are much less familiar to these collections, of which the Lyrichord anthology represents one of the major sets. There were four albums in this series originally stamped out in the '70s, while in 1994 a CD box set was created combining everything, including the original informative liner notes, complete with photography and notated musical examples. This is one of the most essential sections of this field recording extravaganza, starting as it does with something no household should be without: "Nyule Drelwa, Calling Down of Dieties to Subjugate Evil Spirit; and Kulwa, Its Death, Stabbed by Black Hat" is the official full-length title and yes, this is a piece of music designed to ward off evil spirits. The listener will probably sense it when one has arrived at the so-called "violent music of the Kulwa" portion, although the collective sound of clattering cymbals, eerily pitched bells, and brass trumpets that sound as if they are in the process of eating trombonists is something that can be said to transcend the whole notion of violence. Never mind that there is a ritual stabbing during this piece using a dagger known as a phurpa which is not recommended for carry-on luggage. The incredible theatrical sense of the monks is well-demonstrated by the piece which follows, involving what is described as "pleasant chanting," and bearing the same relation to pleasant that violent bore to violence. This type of overwhelming experience of Tibetan music changes on the second side when we arrive at a Rite of Realization in the Temple of Jampa, located in the Chhokhor Valley in Eastern Bhutan. As if watching an effective travelogue, the listener will be swept into a series of vignettes involving clowns who perform satires of the monks, episodes of exotic hand percussion which sound like the little instruments dudes from the AACM unpacking their luggage, drummers chasing dancers, and even something described in the liner notes as "public enjoyment." A grandiose theme is played on the long trumpets, there is more gorgeous chanting, and then the album continues its fascinating side trips. There are several instrumental solos on cymbals known as silnyen and the cross-flute called a surlim, the latter instrument something that really resonates deeply on vinyl and possibly within one's mind. These pieces are some of the jewels of this collection. Completists take note: the short excepts of storytelling that conclude this set are the only places where editors left something out when compiling the box set. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi
Read Less
