Camera Model Name: Canon EOS 5D
Lens: EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Tv (Shutter Speed): 1/60
Av (Aperture Value): 4.5
Metering: Partial Metering
ISO Speed: 1600
Focal Length: 100.0 mm
Flash: Off

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DAY 17

Altitude: 3, 505 m / 11, 499 ft.
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Inside the chapel we encounter a young and friendly monk who takes the initiative to explain things and answer our quaries.

To the right, on a wooden pole there is a flat drum or phyed-rnga as known in Tibetan, a beam of light reveals the brightly painted motif on the side, a handle on the rear and a wooden pellet to strike and emit a sound.

I ask the monk,“Lamaji, what is the sound like when the drum is played?”

“Try it yourself, but be careful and do play it very softly as the time is not appropriate for music,” he replies.

It makes a hollow ‘tak, tak’ noise, which is not the actual sound when played right, the monk smiles indulgently at the uninitiated effort.

He explains, that the drum is made of two shallow wooden bowls joined at their bases; the two open sides are then covered with processed skin. A heavy woven strip of fabric is tied around the drum; two cords are attached on either side, with a handle and pellet at each end to produce the sound. The pellet can be made of wood or human bones.

Ritual monastery music involves use of both instrumental music and chanting. Though the musical practices of the various sects of Tibetan Buddhism are different, there are general similarities. During the five daily assemblies in the monastery temple, monks can be seen sitting cross-legged in rows facing each other, chanting and playing instruments. The standard chant texts are drawn from the sacred scriptures and the music of the service proceeds under the direction of the chant leader.

During the training period, novice monks are allowed to refer to the scroll-like musical score of the chanting written in a way as to produce different styles and techniques of timber and other features. The syllables of the text are written under these signs and sometimes indicate the method or pitch of playing the instruments as well. This type of notation is extremely ancient and different monasteries may have slightly varying forms of it.

During the chantings, the instruments and voices may be rhythmically independent of each other or may coincide and proceed together. The choral chant and the heavy use of drones are often ascribed to Indian influence.

This photo comes from the report 'Housing Review 1961 - 400 Series Designs' to examine and analyse thirteen houses designs by the Commonwealth Department of Works erected in Downer in 1961.

The report also includes photographs of Government housing located in other Canberra suburbs.