Images from The Beede Gallery Pair of Shawms (Rgya Gling), Tibet, late 19th Century Click on instrument images below to see larger images NMM 2584 A/B.  Pair of shawms (rgya gling), Tibet, late 19th century. Double-reed woodwind instrument with hardwood body and copper and brass bell. Blue- and red-colored glass embellishments. Acts as primary melodic voice in monastic ensemble playing. Pirouette facilitates the technique of circular breathing, which allows musicians to play extended passages. Board of Trustees, 1979. Postcard image of a group of Tibetan musicians, ca. 1905-1920 Views of the Pirouette With and Without Metal Disc in Place The rgya gling's double reeds are made from a single stem of marsh grass, folded and creased sharply, then rounded at the upper end. The player's entire mouth is placed around the reed, but does not touch it; rather, the lips are pressed against the flat metal disc below the reed, which facilitates circular breathing. Front, Back, and Side Views of the Bell Literature:  Thomas E. Cross, Instruments of Burma, India, Nepal, Thailand and Tibet, The Shrine to Music Museum Catalog of the Collections, Vol. II, André P. Larson, editor (Vermillion: The Shrine to Music Museum, 1982), p. 28. Thomas E. Cross, Instruments of Burma, India, Nepal, Thailand and Tibet, M.M. Thesis, University of South Dakota, May 1983, p. 71, plate XXVI.   Click arrow to continue Beede Gallery Tour Go to Beede Gallery Tour Index Go to Virtual Gallery Tour Index Go to Checklist of Musical Instruments From Tibet and Nepal A catalog of instruments from Tibet is available from the Gift Shop National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD   57069 ©National Music Museum, 2007 Most recent update:   January 10, 2007 You are the 1,831st visitor to this page since January 5, 2007. The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page