The Whole Music Experience

This image is of an 18th century engraving found on the Wikipedia site. WM Why Birds & Saami Sing: Conversation with David Rothenberg In this blog conversation with David Rothenberg, a connection between birds, the natural world, the Karelian and Saami people are explored. Recently during a radio interview for KSVR-Mount Vernon, Finnish and Saami magical yoiks, and music came into the conversation. While this topic did not fit into the actual radio interview, I thought that the conversation could continue on this music consciousness blog. If you enjoy this conversation, please tell your friends. Also the Saami music article on this site has attracted some traffic, so those readers will enjoy this article as well. Life is magic and music can lead us all on that path of enchantment if we choose the right songs, and the right fork in the road. In other words, learn to think outside of the musical box. WME: When I first listened to your CD Why Birds Sing, I thought of exp...

David Rothenberg Why Birds Sing Terra Nova Birds have inspired musicians, poets and artists of various discipline for centuries. Birds and their joyful songs have enlightened saints, prophets and mystics, not to mention bird watchers and ecologists. Birds have been the subjects of songs, entire music compositions and Alfred Hitchcock's film, but obviously, old Alfred did not quite understand the bird kingdom--he was a product of a paranoid society. (And I don't care much for that film). However, David Rothenberg, musician, author, professor and philosopher has chosen to befriend the bird kingdom through its musical language. Not only did he write the book, Why Birds Sing (reviewed on this blog), but he also co-produced a remarkable CD of the same title that combines nature with modern technology. While I am not into electronic music myself, (I do not find it healing due to the electromagnetic fields), the music on Why Birds Sing recalls sacred yoiks of the Saami...

Louie Gonnie Songs from the Sacred Circle Canyon Records Kevin Yazzie Faith Canyon Records I will admit these CDs have been patiently waiting for me to review them. While I find peyote songs relaxing, I do need to be in a certain frame of mind to listen to them. Songs of the Sacred Circle marks the third Louie Gonnie recording that has come my way. A member of the Dine Tribe of the American Southwest, Gonnie pulls his inspiration from the natural world and its healing energies. In the past, he has shown reverance for the mountains that reside in four cardinal directions. On this CD of peyote songs of the Native American Church, Gonnie again travels deep into the Spirits of the Earth. He provides his listeners with 8 sets of peyote songs, a soldier's lament (since many Native Americans have been sent off to fight in Iraq), and a track, called Rendition, also concerned with battles. Personally I feel sad, even broken hearted that so many youth are sent off to fight ...

Book Review Why Birds Sing David Rothenberg Penguin/Allen Lane I come from a family of bird enthusiasts. This year for my birthday, my sister surprised me with David Rothenberg's amusing and informative book, Why Birds Sing . Rothenberg marries his musical and philosophical talents with an unusual quest. Yet, he is not alone since he cites scientists, poets and others who also took similar quests at one point or another. Rothenberg takes us through a little history of songbird science as well as, noting improvements in technology that still for whatever reason, cannot fathom why birds sing. Do they sing for pleasure? Possibly. Do they enjoy the music of humans? Possibly. Rothenberg explores mimics of the bird kingdom from the common starling, (were you aware of the talent of this bird?), to the less common Albert's Lyrebird of Australia. We learn a little about finches, mockingbirds, canaries and blackbirds, among others. And in this fascinating quest, we m...

Bina and Pranav Mehta Cosmic Dawn (Bhajans of India) Canyon Records Bina and Pranav Mehta Moonlit Taj (Ghazals of India) Canyon Records The folks at Canyon Records have started a new venture-The Canyon Explorer Series. This series, I am told, includes world music as well as, classical music performed by Native American musicians. My ears welcome both projects. The recordings, Moonlit Taj and Cosmic Dawn by Indian classical vocalists, Bina & Pranav Mehta launch this new series. Moonlit Taj features one of my favorite Indian classical genres, Ghazals. For those folks who cannot get enough of Canadian Ghazal singer Kiran Ahluwalia, would also enjoy listening to Pranav and Bina's interpretation of this musical art form. Backed by classical Indian instruments such as the bansuri flute, sitar, santoor, tabla, dholak and western instruments such as the vibraphone, keyboards, guitar..., the vocalists sing over lush instrumentation. Their vocals, another instrumen...

Mayra Andrade Navega Stern's Music Cape Verde--another young vocalist, Mayra Andrade brings us effervescent tunes. Similar to compatriots Sara Tavares and Lura, Andrade's vocals soar over Cape Verdean rhythms and the vocalist caresses each note as if the notes were lovers. The music here goes down easy and feels good on a sunny or rainy day. Certainly , Andrade is a talent to watch. And for those who cannot get enough of Cape Verdean vocalists, Navega is a must. http://www.sternsmusic.com/

photo: by Friedrun Reinhold The Hilliard Ensemble Thomas Tallis, Christopher Tye and John Sheppard ECM I learned about The Hilliard Ensemble through a Seattle-based early music ensemble, The Tudor Choir. And through this choir, I also heard about the music of Thomas Tallis and John Sheppard, if I am not mistaken. This will be the second Hilliard Ensemble recording reviewed by me (the other review appears on Cranky Crow Whole Music). While this recording is important for historical reasons as well as, the sheer beauty of the seamless voices of David James (countertenor), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Steven Harrold (tenor), Gordon Jones (baritone) and Robert Macdonald (bass), I will ask you to read the scholarly liner notes which delve into that history. If you are interested in 16th century England, then your delight will double as you read about the renaissance composers and the events that surrounded them. Religious music turns some people off, which given all the dogma peo...

I have consciously been listening to music for the past few years. Sometimes I listen to music purely for pleasure, but other times I am trying to shift moods, heal a weak immune system, insomnia, physical pain and emotional turmoil. Here are some of the results I have found in my own life testing music on my own mind-body. Lifting Moods: Mozart, Bach, Debussy Also to various Gregorian chant recordings George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" and "American in Paris" Anything by Madeleine Peyroux Rolf Lislevand's "Nuove Musiche" Some Beatles music (the folkier acoustic songs) Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" Native American flute West African kora music West African polyphonic drums Taj Mahal & Toumani Diabate Classical Indian music Habib Koite & Bamada Malian music in general Healing Migraines & Nausea: The Wailin' Jenny's, especially the song, "Apocalypse Lullaby" (Firecracker) Renaissan...

The Healing Energies of Music (1995 edition) by Hal A. Lingerman Quest Books I recently found The Healing Energies of Music by music therapist Hal A. Lingerman at the library. This book delves into the spiritual and more intuitive aspects of healing with music. While Lingerman does quote some scientific studies in regard to healing with music, and also cites projects with Medical Doctor Bernie S. Siegel, this book focuses on the metaphysical end of music for the most part. And the fact that some of this material was written as early as 1983 is prophetic and currently manifesting. The author writes in a flowing style and offers stories of people transformed and healed by music, mostly classical music, but world, some new age, and Native American music are also brought into the mix. The book also includes a chapter on women composers and their contribution to music throughout history. Mostly the book provides lists of compositions and the best recordings to hear those famous compo...

Deobrat Mishra and David Michael Himalayan Crossroad (peaceful melodies featuring sitar and Celtic Harp Purnima Productions and Kind Music There have been many reports cited that spoke about the healing elements of sitar and Celtic harp. Sitar player (from Benares), Deobrat Mishra and Washington State based multi-instrumentalist David Michael (Celtic harp and zither), put musical therapy theories to the test on their recording, Himalayan Crossroads . The exotic sound of the sitar resonates with the misty atmosphere of the Celtic harp and a listener could easily place themselves in a Celtic country or near the Ganges in India. The first track, "Fingers of Dawn" acts as an unfolding Alap where the harp and the sitar get to know one another and familiarize themselves with this unusual terrain. A micro-tonal instrument from an eastern tradition melds with instruments hailing from the west where the eight note scale (7 actual notes), rules. With so many fusion projects b...

Pandit Shivnath and Deobrat Mishra The Lincoln Theatre Mount Vernon, Washington May 29, 2008 I do not know why it was not front page news that internationally renowned Sitarists--father and son duo, Pandit Shivath and Deobrat Mishra were making a special appearance in town. Certainly folks here could get an eyeful of positive news, of a music that spreads peace and love instead of fear, but sadly, even with the wonderful efforts of the concert promoters, Elfa Gisla and Diane Light, this concert did not receive the fanfare it so deserved. Imagine playing second fiddle to rising gas prices and other gloom. However, for those who did attend the concert held at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Old Town, Mount Vernon, there was plenty of fanfare in the guise of fiery rhythms, and melodic phrases that brought chills to my spine due to the sheer beauty they possessed. The audience for the most part, appeared educated in regard to classical Indian music, many of them having come of age...

Sondre Bratland This Dream We Have Kirkelig Kulturverksted Now in his 70s, Sondre Bratland released a new recording, This Dream We Have . The recording features simple instrumental arrangements that provide a light backdrop for Bratland's signature vocals. Bratland also surfs through a variety of musical genres which he has grown fond of over the years, ballads, folk songs, a little bit of Latin music ( Dream and reality ), and country western. However this CD also has been spiced with a jazz element. Norwegian poet Olav H. Hauge's poems provide the text for this recording. Multi-instrumentalist Knut Reiersrud, fiddle player Annbjorg Lien, drummer Helge Norbakken and multi-instrumentalist Matthias Eick (double-bass, trumpet and vibraphone), bring a palette of vibrant colors and textures to the recording. I Always Expect to Find features understated guitar, sultry trumpet, and the chime of vibraphone. In fact, this is the second Norwegian recording in the past weeks in...

Conjunto Jardìn Yerba Buena Trova Recordings California-based Conjunto Jardìn has released its third son jarocho recording, Yerba Buena . Led by vocalists and lute-playing sisters, Libby and Cindy Harding, this group does not just deliver the traditional Mexican jarocho, but Pan-American music complete with Andean pipes on La Culebra , salsa rhythms on Fandanguito de los Muertos , and Colombian rhythms on El Ahualulco . You might not call it pure traditional, but this music is purely delightful. La Vieja features lush call & response vocals with added guest vocalists, Mari Riddle and Ericka Verba. And following that song, is the groovy cover of Procol Harum's Conquistador with Gary Johnson's 70s psychedelic organ booming throughout. Fandanguito de los Muertos (mentioned earlier), offers two musical genres for the price of one, ending out with rousing salsa. Just as other journalists have noted, this music does present a lot of twists and turns, as well as, ...

Various Artists Sanger Om Sarbarhet (Songs of vulnerability) Kirkelig Kulturverksted Music once again lends itself to healing emotional, physical and spiritual issues. Twelve Norwegian artists contribute their healing songs to the compilation album Songs of vulnerability which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the baths at Modum--a residential psychotherapy, education and research center in Norway. "While Modum Bad specializes in helping people with psychological problems, it is also a cultural institution with a 40 year history of arranging public concerts where these two aspects of their activities are combined." The Grand Hall and Olav's Church have served as concert venues and some of the performers that have performed in those venues include many KKV artists such as: Ketil Bjornstad, Randi Stene, Aage Kvalbein, Sondre Bratland, Tone Hulbaekmo, Elias Akselsen and Lars Bremnes… Those same artists reappear on this live recording. Highlights include Lars B...

Andràs Schiff Ludwig van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas Vol. VI ECM New Series Hungarian classical pianist Andràs Schiff took up the gauntlet of recording the Beethoven cycle (piano sonatas) in order. Ludwig van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas, Volume VI brings us up to the period between 1804 and 1810, during which the infamous "Appassionata" was composed. The works on this recording, Sonatas #22 through #26, explore a vast range of emotions, colors and textures--a range that seems like a piece of cake in Schiff's expressive hands. I have reviewed volumes II and III of this series and have been astounded by Schiff's immense gift as a pianist. While he fits into the realm of virtuoso, he does not appear to be showing off. His playing is absent of bravado and full of humanity, not to mention curiosity towards Beethoven's life and music, since one informs the other. Not only that, one of my favorite things to do is to crank up the volume on these recordings so...

Joshua Leeds and Lisa Spector Through A Dog's Ear Music to Calm Your Dog in the Car Sounds True Concert pianist Lisa Spector has the good fortune of a dog named Sanchez who relaxes when he hears classical piano. So when Lisa takes Sanchez along in her car, playing a recording of classical piano music is similar to hitting Sanchez' snooze button. Sound unreasonable? Too good to be true? For those folks with anxious dogs that pant excessively or bark in the car or won't get in the car to begin with, there is hope. The latest installment of the Through A Dog's Ear project, Music to Calm Your Dog in the Car is now available. Again, psycho-acoustic expert Joshua Leeds, pianist Lisa Spector have teamed up. The beauty of this recording is that it relaxes dogs without putting the driver to sleep. Music by Chopin, Brahms, Bach, Beethoven, Scarlatti, Mozart, Gluck and Debussy flows generously off of this disc. While the music acts as a wonderful soundtrack for a d...