Tibetan Buddhism makes great use of the shell of Turbinella pyrum, in spite of the fact that Tibet nowhere near the ocean where they live.  This lecture will discuss the use of the sacred shank in Tibetan art and how it came to be used in Buddhist ritual.

Dr. Dailey will bring several examples of dung kar for the audience to examine, and will also let people try to play one!

Dr. Jeff S. Dailey is a musicologist, ethnomusicologist, and theatre historian. One of his interests is the study of Himalayan musical instruments, especially those used for Tibetan Buddhist rituals. Part of his collection of instruments is on display at the Jacques Marchais Museum. He is interested in exploring the relationship between musical instruments and fine art, especially examining the point at which instruments become works of art.