Live recordings from 'The Path'

1. The Tibetan Singing Bowl Orchestra
2. Ani Choying Drolma

Reviewed together by Chris Dooks

UK only. I am sure it's a familiar story: being energetically challenged means you have to miss out on some great cultural events, breaking our exhausted hearts from time to time. However, limited relief for me was found recently regarding an audiovisual "happening" that was staged in the Scottish Highlands during May-June 2000. Relief comes in the form of two belatedly released CDs. …This cultural event, entitled "The Path” won awards and rave reviews. It was not very ME-friendly, basically being a two-mile "art-hike" up a hill in the middle of nowhere - in the dead of night. The project shuttled a "pack of townies" to the wild country on special buses in order for them to walk mindfully into the enhanced glen of light and sound.

A review from The Times put it like this: "As one crosses a wooden bridge to accept a Buddhist blessing... you are heading towards a summit that from a distance looks like a maypole, but is actually a makeshift temple, from which tentacles of worship flags hang. The descent is awash with candles, amplified chants and Tibetan singing bowls... with (visions of) stones that 'grow' - and pacts with local monsters.” It seemed to span Gaelic, Celtic, European and Tibetan influences and culture. What has been released from the show is Himalayan: two CDs of both Buddhist chanting and Tibetan singing bowl music. Together, they make a great double souvenir of the event; the works are also strong enough musical pieces in their own right. They both make for gently penetrating listening.

The Tibetan Singing Bowl Orchestra

A live (amplified) recording, all chimes and decaying tones. Two percussion masters, based in Kathmandu but performing in the Scottish glen, gently gong, pulse and tinkle low resonating bowl tones for the best part of an hour. This is on the CD as one long continuous track. Listening to this recording, it's clear that it's no precise studio session... Heard on headphones, it reveals the distant buzz of an amplifier and it comes across as a well-preserved document of this event. But that's to its advantage… The knowledge that you are listening to a performance gives it extra charge and pregnant expectation of the next gentle ripple of notes between the gaps - or gaps between the notes. It works really well as a gentle "night chimes" release - quiet metal bubbles and trickles of sound drifting off into the dark air - an ideal piece to listen to first thing on a morning or last thing at night. Beautiful.

Ani Choying Drolma

This CD is also entitled "Live Recordings From The Path" and is a more direct, but equally meditative release. The Tibetan nun sings alone on this piece, which is also one continuous track. This seemed at first to be slightly annoying as there are many different chants on this recording. But the intention seems to be to listen to it all in one sitting, for a dedicated period of time. The production is similar to the Tibetan Singing Bowl Orchestra's CD - a warm location-based recording, simply recorded. It seems to differ from the above release in that Ani's voice is washed slightly with what sounds like an artificial reverb or delay which I found made me feel cheated a little bit, although it does allow your brain to sink into the piece. The sleeve notes claim this reverb is natural and environmental and if it is, it is stunning - can it be true? it sounds like a cathedral! ..

There's a pivotal moment half way through on this gorgeous record, when you know what you are listening to simply occurred in one particular moment in time - a jet flies overhead and it gently soaks into the composition for almost a minute. It made me think of the view from the aircraft of the spectacle below and then from the point of view of below, to above. When I thought about this, I realised this was a kind of ‘sound of the sky’ on the recording which I felt was pertinent.

A great addition to this release would have been an English translation of the chants. Although the music is wonderful, relaxing and inspiring, and repetitive, we British folks sit soaking up music like this, often labelling it ‘spiritual’, without enquiry. But I believe that Ani is not singing a Sainsbury's shopping list here, and that it's highly likely it comes from a very authentic tradition. I just want to know what the words are...

In all, a fine couple of CDs, which are available as a special offer from the organisation that staged the event [see below]: £12 each or £20 for the pair of CDs. >> Available with a cheque (UK only) from nva organisation, 3rd floor, 128 Elderslie Street, Glasgow, G3 7AW tel: 0141 204 3304, email: [email protected].