Invoking Happiness

Invoking Happiness Guide to the Sacred Festivals of Bhutan and Gross National Happiness Khenpo Phuntshok Tashi "Yang is the art of speech in chanting, including recitation or singing, which is capable of capturing the minds of all who hear it. Recitation and chanting with a pleasing voice positively impacts the immediate situation or condition because these sounds have the power to please the ear and mind, by reducing and dispelling negative feelings such as anger so that they will render no further ill effects." Khenpo has a masters degree in Buddhist philosophy and was himself a former Tshechu dancer. His description of "Yang" resonates with the primary definition of opera as was defined by the early theorists at the end of the sixteenth century in Italy. In trying to emulate the ancient Greek technique of 'singing' their tragedies, Iacopo Peri in the preface to his opera 'Euridice' described his newly devised technique of recitar cantando, whereby the singer recites in an intermediate manner somewhere between speaking and singing. The capacity of capturing minds, and the power of a pleasing voice over negativity are concepts that can also be applied to Western opera.