Tibetan horn music?

November 6, 2005 10:18 PM

Tibetan horn music?

A few years back, I attended a Tibetan ritual in remembrance of the dead. They read names that were submitted, burned the papers they were printed on in a big metal bowl, and played these horns -- that I was told were made from human femur bones -- that sounded something like an elephant.

It impressed me enough that I'm still thinking about it now -- and wondering where I can find music that uses these instruments. I'm interested in both traditional representations of the music and modern implementations.

posted by evil holiday magic to Society & Culture (6 answers total)

The horns are called kanglings. For those who've never heard them, here is a site with a RealAudio clip. Here is a site selling a resin kangling. Here's a good picture of the real thing.

Unfortunately, I don't know enough about this instrument to tell you much about how it's used now. From a cursory search, it looks like it's not broken out of its traditional ritual use (with a few exceptions--see the bottom of the page), which given the provenance of the actual instrument is perhaps understandable.
posted by musicinmybrain at 11:01 PM on November 6, 2005

Beastie Boys uses them on on of their (I think) Ill Communication tracks.

Sorry I can't be more specific.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 1:43 AM on November 7, 2005

This instrument is used on Psychic TV's "Dreams Less Sweet"
posted by davebush at 5:41 AM on November 7, 2005

I'm pretty sure Phillip Glass's sountrack to Kundun makes use of these.
posted by chill at 6:06 AM on November 7, 2005

Coil has used this instrument in a number of their works, as has Current 93 and Nurse With Wound.
posted by Jairus at 7:32 AM on November 7, 2005

Tibetan Buddhism: Tantras of Gyuto.
posted by DelusionsofGrandeur at 11:31 AM on November 7, 2005