The sounds at the top of the world

May 7, 2005 1:33 AM

The songs at the top of the worldUnbelievable music from the land of the gods, Tibet - Haunting eerie and warming. I have no more words for this music.
posted by Elim (18 comments total)

I want to live my next five lives as a Tibetan monk. so relaxing.
posted by longsleeves at 2:13 AM on May 7, 2005

About 10 years ago I went to a Tibetan arts festival where singing like this was accompanied by dancing. The female singers wore curtain-like veils made of metal rods and howled in such an impassioned way. Amazing, it was.
posted by planetkyoto at 5:44 AM on May 7, 2005

I'm not sure if dedication to seeing into the Great Matter of Life and Death can be described as "relaxing," but try it sometime and tell us.

More great, haunting Tibetan music can be found on this album, Selwa, a collaboration between Tibetan nun Choying Drolma, who has a gorgeous voice, and brilliant American guitarist/soundscape-sculptor Steve Tibbetts, whose albums -- particularly Safe Journey -- are mind-melting masterpieces of psychedelic wonder.
posted by digaman at 8:54 AM on May 7, 2005

I am more in favor of the less-modified recordings available from Gyuto monks (and probably 50 or so other recordings). This Kitaro-like new agey stuff ruins it for me.
posted by beelzbubba at 9:08 AM on May 7, 2005

One hopes you're not talking about Tibbetts, because he ain't no Kitaro.
posted by digaman at 9:10 AM on May 7, 2005

I mean, I understand the desire to hear the music unaltered, but Tibbetts' collaborations are extremely sensitive, and put the Tibetan music front and center in relatively undiluted form.

But Tibbetts' own music is much more intense and pioneering than "new agey stuff," unless you consider, say, Steve Reich new age.
posted by digaman at 9:16 AM on May 7, 2005

thanks for these. I am always looking for music to use in my acupuncture practice. These will be perfect for some people. also, Selwa sounds beautiful. trying to figure if I want to spend the $10 right this minute on itunes.
posted by pointilist at 9:17 AM on May 7, 2005

One of the curious things about Tibetan Buddhist culture is that the dharma is considered so valuable that even mechanical reproduction of sutras, etc., is considered a plus for your karma or "merit." Thus the fascinating concept of prayer wheels. And thus, with Choying Drolma's singing and other Tibetan chants available on the Apple Music Store, iTunes becomes a global, decentralized, merit-building network.

A little literal for me, but interesting.
posted by digaman at 9:27 AM on May 7, 2005

I met the author of How to Sing Three Notes at the Same Time at a juggling convention, where he was running a one-hour workshop on singing overtones. About a third of the participants learned during that hour. It took me another few weeks. Great fun!
posted by Aknaton at 10:10 AM on May 7, 2005

digaman: Didja know, you can put the Om Mani Padme Hum on your hard drive, and it turns your drive into a prayer wheel? More virtue with every revolution!

I found different tracks there have different levels of 'westernization'. I'm still hoping to find more bare chanting.

For those who like a mixed blend of west and eastern sound, another artist is Deuter (amazon listing). Its good for the nerves.
posted by Goofyy at 10:37 AM on May 7, 2005

Didja know, you can put the Om Mani Padme Hum on your hard drive, and it turns your drive into a prayer wheel? More virtue with every revolution!

How do I do this? I need all the merit I can get. I've been a baaaaaaaad boy who will probably be reborn as Dick Cheney's jockstrap unless I do some more meditating.
posted by digaman at 10:39 AM on May 7, 2005

Both in Kathmandu and Dharmsala I was struck by the power of the simple act of spinning prayer wheels. Profound tidal changes in consiousness simular to what I experienced meditating. seems outlandish.


Dali Llama recomendes putting a copy of Om Mani Padme Hum on your hard disk and lettting it spin........

on preview: you have it going now digaman but save this image and you are set.
posted by pointilist at 11:06 AM on May 7, 2005

Sweet! Thanks and gassho.
posted by digaman at 11:17 AM on May 7, 2005

Beelzebuba, are there any particular recordings you'd recommend?
posted by josh at 11:47 AM on May 7, 2005

this is good
posted by klik99 at 1:31 PM on May 7, 2005

new age

I think once you put synth bells instruments into something, it's 'new age'. And I don't think it really helps.

But this is a good post nonetheless.
posted by blacklite at 2:02 PM on May 7, 2005

Somebody is going to have one heck of a bandwidth bill this month.
posted by thedevildancedlightly at 2:20 PM on May 7, 2005

If you like this stuff you should check out David Hykes/Harmonic Choir. Especially the album 'Hearing solar winds' He does the overtone singing in a french abbey and the strength of the effect is amazing. They use one of the tracks in the first Blade film I think, you know, in one of the bits when the sun is setting.
posted by leibniz at 3:43 PM on May 7, 2005