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Which instruments accompanied the Buddhist monastic dance ācham?
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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.
The Buddhist monastic dance known as ācham is accompanied by a large temple orchestra consisting of a variety of instruments, primarily drums and horns.12
Specific instruments used in these performances include:
- Drums: Both large and small drums are utilized.2
- Horns and Trumpets: The ensemble features short horns with fingering holes and long metal trumpets. Notable among these is the dung-chen, a long, brass instrument that can extend several feet and produces a deep, haunting wail to accentuate the dance's atmosphere.12
- Other Percussion and Wind Instruments: The orchestra also incorporates large cymbals, handbells, and conch-shell trumpets. Additionally, some ensembles include a large double-reed instrument and, in some traditions, a short trumpet fashioned from a human leg bone.1
These instruments are typically played by musicians positioned under a cloth canopy within the monastery courtyard, known as the ācham-ra, to support the masked dancers.3