Tibetan Tantric Choir

Front cover has a subtitle: "Windham Hill on BASF Chrome" From the liner notes: The chanting heard on this recording is prayer, not performance. Whenever this recording is played its prayers are effectively said anew — though their power depends less upon mechanistic reproduction than on the degree of attention and compassion with which you, the listener, join in the experience. Recorded at Fantasy Studio D, Berkeley, CA Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA All compositional rights on behalf of The Gyuto Monks © 1986 by 360° Publishing (ASCAP) Microphones were arranged carefully preserving phase coherency. No equalization was used either in the recording or mixdown process. The twelve primary microphones were Neumann U87, AKG 414 and AKG 452. Additionally AKG C24, Neumann SM23, Telefunken 251 and Neumann KM84 microphones were used in recording the instruments and ambience. During the final mixing the entire mix was monitored using the Bruel and Kjaer model 2032 Dual Channel Fast Fourier Transform Analyzer, verifying frequency and phase relationships. The project was recorded on a Mitsubishi 800 digital 32-track using 1" tape. It was mixed down from a Mitsubishi 850 digital 32-track to a Mitsubishi 80 digital 2-track using ¼" tape, and finally converted through the Studer model FSC-16 PCM converter from 48K to 44.1K clock frequency to make it compatible with the Sony PCM 1630 which created the U-matic tape for the final transfer to compact disc. The U-matic tape was also used to cut the final disc master as well as creating the bin master for the audio cassette. John Myers' Myer Model 833 studio monitors and subs were used in tracking and mixdown. All recording and transfers were accomplished digitally. This Gyuto Choir recording differs from other Windham Hill music. But our opportunity to become involved with the project was compelling. The Tibetan Gyuto Monks — now exiled in India after being driven from their monastery in Lhasa, Tibet — have for centuries refined a chanting technique that enables each member of the choir to sing a three note chord. This music, which invokes Tibetan Buddhist deities, produces an astoundingly rich and atmospheric tonal texture. Mickey Hart, drummer with the Grateful Dead and an ethnomusicologist, brought these rare recordings to our attention. Authorized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the concert and recording occurred during the first series of appearances by the Gyuto Tantric Choir in the United States. Under the auspices of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, Hart was responsible for producing both the special benefit concert and the recording session that followed. ©℗1987 Windham Hill Records Printed in the U.S.A. This cassette is manufactured with BASF Professional II Chrome 120μs EQ tape.