The mystical sounds of Tibetan bells and singing bowls have been used for centuries in Buddhist meditation and religious rites.
Henry Wolff and
Nancy Hennings first encountered these instruments during a 1969 trip to India and Nepal where they studied with the Kagyu branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Since 1971, the duo has been releasing a subtle, haunting series of recordings featuring Tibetan bells, including a collaboration with
Grateful Dead percussionist
Mickey Hart called
Yamantaka.
Wolff and
Hennings also contributed their skills to the
Philip Glass soundtrack for the film
Koyaanisqatsi, which brought the transcendent sound of the bells to wider audiences. The uncanny resonances of these acoustic instruments produce music that often sounds electronically generated. ~ Linda Kohanov, All Music Guide