Thursday music rehearsals

Every Thursday at 6:20 p.m., members of the Music Department meet on the premises of the Slovenian Daoist Temple. We devote this time to general work, joint instrumental practice, the course of Daoist ritual, and planning future work.

Anyone with a sincere wish to perform Daoist ritual music is welcome at the group practices. Prior knowledge of Daoist music is not required; musical experience is desirable, but it is not a condition for taking part.

Because Daoist music is ritual music, it is not appropriate to perform it outside ritual. The exception is learning this music, but whenever we practice Daoist music, we must hang up a notice that reads: Disciples are studying the scriptures; the deities pardon their transgressions (弟子習經 諸神宥罪). 

The Daoist orchestra consists of a rhythmic and a melodic part. The most important element is the voice, followed by percussion instruments, which include the wooden fish (Mù Yú 鱼), the small hand singing bowl (Yǐn Qìng 引磬), and the drum, bell (Gǔ &  Zhōng 鼓钟), cymbals (Chǎ 镲, Bó 钹, Náo 鐃), handbell (Dì Zhōng帝钟), small hand gong (Dāng 铛), and large singing bowl (Qìng 磬).

At SDT we already have several traditional Chinese instruments. Most of them belong to members of SDT, while some belong to the temple. They are available for borrowing by agreement.