Notice on regular practice

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

Anyone with a sincere wish to perform Daoist ritual music is welcome at the joint practices. Prior knowledge of Daoist music is not required; musical experience is welcome, 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 the study of this music, but whenever we practice Daoist music, we must display a notice that reads: Disciples study the sacred scriptures; the gods pardon their sins (弟子習經 諸神宥罪). 

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

At SDT we already have several traditional Chinese instruments. Most of them belong to SDT members, and some belong to the temple. By arrangement, they are available to borrow.