Trumpets and Horns

The rag-dun is a trumpet-type instrument used in special ritual by an esoteric sect of the Karma Kaputa monks in Tibet. The largest form has a length of about sixteen feet and sounds the drone or "aum" for chants. There are rag-duns of lesser lengths of which the one shown here is the shortest. These are used for higher overtones.

This striking instrument is made of copper and used in rituals by providing a drone for chanting. The straight and conical bored horn varies in length from 3 feet to 20 feet! It is usually made in sections that can be telescoped for portability. The horn has shallow cup mouthpiece that resembles the western bugle and is capable of producing different tones.

The most spectacular Tibetan ritual instruments are long copper rag-dung trumpets. These conically bored natural horns vary in length from 3'-20'. They are made in sections that can be telescoped for portability. Each horn has a fairly shallow cup mouthpiece and like the Western bugle is capable of producing different tones. The basic use of these horns is to play a drone for chanting. The drone is sometimes in 3rds or 5ths. There are also smaller hand held trumpets with dragon heads at the bell end. The players tend to concentrate on one note from which they slide up and down

Tibetan Laha Wind Instrument

While it is not made of wood, it is included here as a tribal musical instrument. It has three telescoping sections, extending to 36" in length. Its diameter = 5 1/2 ". Black metal highlighted with white brass.

Jogi Baja

Tibetan Copper Curved Horn ceremonial horn

Reed is similar to that of a shanai; shaped like the French Bombarde, with 7 fingerholes and one thumbhole. A "screamer". Plays one octave.

Tibetan Cornet