Tibet has a long tradition of sacred music, which includes a variety of different chanting style traditions. The well-known deep throat chanting is performed in the larger monasteries, such as the great monastic colleges of central Tibet, including Gyuto Tantric College, while other smaller monasteries follow chanting styles that adopt a more natural voice and melody style. Some chants are performed in conjunction with the rhythmic beating of monastic drums and cymbals, while other chant styles more closely resemble the melody and cadence of Tibetan folk songs. Many of the more intricate chants are written down in a unique form of musical notation, so that the monks and nuns can perform them on the basis of the notation. The notation not only depicts the tune, but also includes symbols which indicate the places where the drums and cymbals are to be played. The rare handwritten musical notation text displayed here is that of the kangso (propitiation) rite of the protector Mahakala according to the Shartse College of Ganden Monastic University of the Geluk School.

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