Mystical Arts of Tibet Closes DP Series
News Release
For additional information, contact H.G. Young, professor of music, 304-424-8248.
When the Mystical Arts of Tibet visit the Mid-Ohio Valley, it will be a cultural phenomenon.
The multi-day residency will include a performance of sacred music and dance by lamas from Drepung Loseling Monastery of Tibet and the creation of a mandala sand painting.
The performance will be held at 8 p.m., Friday, April 20, in the multi-purpose room at West Virginia University at Parkersburg as the final program of the 2000-2001 Distinguished Performance Series. Featured will be a repertoire of masked dances including the Dance of Celestial Travelers, the Dance of the Sacred Snow Lion, the Skeleton Dance and the Dance of the Black Hat Masters.
Robed in magnificent costumes and playing traditional Tibetan instruments, the Loseling monks will perform ancient dances and music that have been featured recently on the Golden Globe nominated soundtrack of "Seven Years in Tibet." Bells, cymbals, drums, long horn trumpets, and high horns will accompany the monks.
This is an opportunity to experience an ancient performance of music designed to generate energies conducive to world healing. The music is particularly renowned in the west for its two forms of multiphonic singing known as zokkay and barda. In both forms, each of the main chant masters simultaneously intones three notes, thus each individually creating a complete chord. Also known as "overtone singing," it is accomplished by controlling the muscles of the vocal cavity and reshaping it while singing to make it accord with the natural overtones of the voice. The Tibetans are the only culture that cultivates this extraordinary vocal ability.
The Mystical Arts of Tibet" Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing tours are sponsored by Richard Gere Productions and Drepung Loseling Institute, which is an affiliate of Emory University and the North American seat of Drepung Loseling Monastery. Begun in 1988, the tours have continued since then with ever-increasing acclaim.
Tickets for the production are available in the college’s business office. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door beginning at 7 p.m. the night of the performance. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for non-WVU Parkersburg students. WVU Parkersburg students may purchase special advance tickets for $2. There are no reserved seats.
For additional information, contact the college at 424-8000.
The Distinguished Performance Series is presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts with approval of the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and the WVU Parkersburg student activity fee and academic affairs budget.
As part of the Mystical Arts of Tibet experience, a finely detailed mandala sand painting will be constructed at the Cultural Center for the Fine Arts prior to the April 20th concert. Contact the cultural center for details.
For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
Director, Communications and Public Relations
WVU Parkersburg
(304-424-8203)
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