How was the dung-chen used in Tibetan Buddhist performances?

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Central Asian arts Mongol shaman wearing a ritual gown and holding a drum with the image of a spirit helper, c. 1909.

In Tibetan Buddhist performances, the dung-chen is a long, brass wind instrument that can extend several feet in length. It is a key component of the temple orchestra used to accompany Buddhist monastic dances, known as ’cham, and morality plays called a-che-lha-mo.21

The instrument is characterized by a deep, haunting wail that is used to accentuate the macabre elements often present in ’cham performances. Musically, it contributes to the Tibetan tradition of creating greatly prolonged, dense, and deep sounds, often played in unison with other trumpets and double-reed instruments to provide a foundational, atmospheric texture to the religious music.12