01/17/2001

Tibetan Monks To Present Unique Jan. 25 Musical Program At Tusculum College

Monks from Tibet's Drepung Loseling Monastery

GREENEVILLE, TN -- A unique presentation by the multiphonic singers of Tibet's Drepung Loseling Monastery, who have given acclaimed performances in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, will take place at Tusculum College's Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25. Admission is free, though donations will be taken for use in aiding Tibetan refugees.

The presentation, done in association with Richard Gere Productions and the Drepung Loseling Institute, is "endorsed by His Holiness, the Dali Lama, as a means of promoting world peace and healing through sacred performing art," according to promotional literature for the event.

Another purpose of the presentation is the promotion of a greater awareness "of the endangered Tibetan civilization, and to raise support for the refugee community in India," according to the promotional literature. The monks' multiphonic singing involves the simultaneous intonation of three notes of a chord. Instruments used include 10-foot-long dungchen trumpets, drums, bells, cymbals, and gyaling horns. Rich brocade costumes and masked dances such as the "Dance of the Sacred Snow Lion," add an exotic atmosphere to the presentation.

The monks have over the years performed with artists including Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, Patti Smith, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, and even the Beastie Boys. Two of their recordings reached top ten status on New Age charts: "Tibetan Sacred Temple Music" from Shining Star Productions, and "Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing," from Music and Arts Program of America, Inc. In 1997, the Depung Loseling monks were associated with two major Hollywood films about Tibet. Their music was featured in the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack of the film "Seven Years in Tibet," starring Brad Pitt. They also performed with Philip Glass in Lincoln Center in New York for his live presentation of his award-winning musical score for Martin Scorsese's film "Kundun." In 2000, the monks received major exposure when they performed to an audience of 50,000 on the National Mall in Washington D.C. as part of the July 4 celebrations for 2000.

For more information, call Tusculum's Arts Outreach program at 423-798-1620, or e-mail mdubrisk@tusculum.edu. Acts, Arts, Academia, and All That Stuff is supported by Dr. Sam and Mary Agnes Miller, the Society of Cicero, Campus Life, and Arts Outreach.

Later Acts, Arts, Academia, and All That Stuff events will include:

* a Feb. 19 presentation called "Of Ebony Embers" that features ensemble music and poetry, to take place in the Byrd auditorium at 7 p.m. with a $6 admission cost;

* a Theatre-at-Tusculum presentation called "Through Darkest Adolescence ... with Tongue in Cheek and Pen in Checkbook," general admission $5 in the Behan Arena Theatre on Feb. 23 and 24;

* a March 19 presentation by Mira Kimmelman, Holocaust survivor, at 7 p.m. in the Behan Arena Theatre with general admission of $5, hosted by Judy Henry;

* "Exploring Music with David Hendricksen," on March 25 at 7 p.m. in Room 42 of the ground floor of Annie Hogan Byrd Auditorium, general admission $5, and hosted by Judy Henry;

* the Actors Coming Together presentation of "My Fair Lady" on April 27 and 28 and May 4, 5, and 8 at 8 p.m., and April 29 and May 6 at 2 p.m., in the Annie Hogan Byrd Auditorium, general admission $6;

* The Tusculum College Choir Spring Concert on May 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chalmers Conference Center, free admission, and

* the Tusculum College Community Chorus presentation of "Celtic Prayers," conducted by David Hendricksen, on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Annie Hogan Byrd Auditorium. Admission is free.