The gyaling (Tibetan: རྒྱ་གླིང་།, Wylie: rgya gling, English: also spelled gya ling, gya-ling, jahlin, jah-lin, jahling, jah-ling, rgya-gling, etc.), which means "Indian trumpet," is a traditional woodwind instrument from Tibet. It is similar to the Chinese double reed Suona horn, which is also like the Iranian sorna. The gyaling is mainly used in Tibetan monasteries during puja, which are religious ceremonies that include chanting and prayer. It is connected to peaceful deities and the practice of devotion.
Design
The gyaling resembles an oboe and has a long body made of hardwood and a bell made of copper brass. The instrument often has beautiful decorations made of colored glass. A double reed, made from a single stem of marsh grass, is placed in a small metal channel that sticks out from the top. A standard gyaling has eight fingerholes.
To play the gyaling, a technique called circular breathing is used. This allows the instrument to be played continuously, even while the musician breathes. The reed is fully placed in the player’s mouth but does not touch it. The lips are pressed against the flat metal channel below the reed. Airflow changes the instrument’s tuning. The way the gyaling is played depends on the musician’s lineage and the ritual being performed.
Usage in ritual
A typical Tibetan Buddhist ritual orchestra includes instruments such as the gyaling, dungchen, kangling, dungkar (conch shells), drillbu (handbells), and silnyen (vertical cymbals). Chanting is also an important part of the music. Together, these elements help create a mental state meant to invite or summon deities.
The way the music is performed often resembles the sound of a bagpipe, with many quick, short notes played in a fast and lively manner.
Gallery
- Gyaling displayed at the National Museum of World Cultures and the World Museum.
- A monk at Key Monastery in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India.
- Tharlam Monastery located in Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Playing gyaling at Lingshed Monastery.