The Whole Music Experience

Yesterday an Ayurvedic doctor referred me to this wonderful site: http://www.ayurveda-music.com/Healing-Sounds-of-Ayurveda.html If you are interested in Indian classical music and balancing your dosha, I recommend this site and the CDs sold on it.

Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI Istanbul—Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723) Aliavox (distributed by Harmonia Mundi) I have never heard medieval or renaissance Turkish music before, though I have heard Turkish music played on traditional instruments as well as, Armenian and the music of Sephardic Jews. When I received Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI’s Istanbul in the mail, with its booklet and gorgeous music, I knew that reviewing the recording would require a steep learning curve, but with each pleasurable listen, I heard both familiar and unfamiliar instruments, familiar and unfamiliar modes. The experience was not totally new to my ears since I have attended my share of Oriental music concerts over the years and it seems that my DNA is predisposed to these modes because I never experienced an adjustment period coming from the West. Savall leaves his viol de gamba behind for this recording and plays a rebab (type of fiddle played vertical while resting on the lap, a vièle (another...

Gloriae Dei Cantores Unto Ages of Ages Sacred Choral Music of Sviridov, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky Paraclete Press/Harmonia Mundi I have never stepped foot in a Russian Orthodox Church, but in 2005 I attended a concert given by a Greek Orthodox choir at a Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood. It felt like stepping into a surreal universe, icons and stories appearing on gold painted ceilings and walls, and I can’t even begin to describe the men’s choir which sang chants rich in chromatic scales and otherworldly harmonies. Five years later I recall the experience as if it happened yesterday. The Massachusetts-based mixed choir Gloriae Dei Cantores (Orleans, MA) performs sacred works composed for the Russian Orthodox Church by Russian composers Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) and Georgy Sviridov (1915-1998). I’m of course familiar with the repertoires of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, but not of the 20th century composer Sviridov (whos...

Jon Manasse (Clarinet) & Seattle Symphony Mozart and Spohr Clarinet Concertos Harmonia Mundi I leap at the chance to review Mozart (1756-1791) recordings because as far as healing music goes, Mozart’s falls at the top of the list. I became a fan of Mozart in recent years because I had to grow into his music and experience life fully before this repertoire made sense to me. Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major K622  is one of my favorite classical music pieces, if not one of my favorite all-around music pieces period. The second Adagio movement inspired another one of my favorite concertos, Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major (which is mostly reflected in the second movement). Both Mozart and Ravel were master orchestrators and employed instrumental voices to their fullest capabilities. As a former Seattlelite, I felt pleased to discover a Mozart recording with Seattle Symphony on board and Maestro Gerard Schwartz at the helm. Guest soloist Jon Manasse seems...

Alex Hargreaves Prelude Adventure Music Release date: 2-16-2010 Often when an extremely talent young musician comes on the scene, someone drags out a comparison to Mozart (one of the most famous child prodigies of all time). However, we forget that wunderkind types have always existed though they are labeled “Indigo” and “Crystal” children these days. These virtuosic youth take our breath away with their incredible talents and in some cases, maturity beyond their years. Fiddler-violinist Alex Hargreaves, still in his teens, has already astounded renowned Americana musicians such as Mike Marshall (who produced Hargreaves debut Prelude ), Darol Anger (appears as a guest musician) and David Grisman to name three. Hargreaves comes off as a fireball, playing those rousing staccato passages as well as, the more feeling lyrical ones. And he possesses the musical emotional maturity of a musician twice and maybe three times his age (17). He plays with confidence and poise and h...

Tito Gonzalez Y Su Son De Cuba Al Doblar La Esquina (To Turn the Corner) Independent Release Ever since I watched the documentary Buena Vista Social Club at the Seattle International Film Festival in 1999, I have been in love with the Cuban son (genre of acoustic rustic music). The melodic call and response vocals and passionate horns accompanied by poly rhythms played on congas, bongos, maracas, très and guitars and guided by the clave beat possesses an infectious quality. The lyrical content ranges from romantic, to socio-political and sexual commentaries, to put it mildly. Sunny, but never laid back, Cuban son and its descendent salsa get people of different backgrounds up on their feet dancing. I would imagine that even someone in a coma would respond somehow to it. Cuban très (a guitar with doubled three strings) player and fisherman (and cab driver among other occupations), Tito Gonzalez leads his twelve-person band through a set of original songs that sound like they ...

R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton and Will Clipman Dancing into Silence Canyon Records I was down with a cold, miserable, tired and the Canyon Records trio of R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton and Will Clipman’s new recording, Dancing into Silence landed in my mailbox. I mostly played its music in the background as I struggled to keep up with my correspondence and workload. And while I cannot make the claim that this haunting and slightly melancholic (in a good way), music healed my cold, I can say that it relaxed my tense mind and body. Most of you are familiar with the Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai and some of you are familiar with luthier William Eaton (I would love to own one of whimsical lutes), and global percussionist Will Clipman—all veterans of Canyon Records. Each of these musicians provides soulfulness to his performances and when combined their energies combine to create a subtle powerhouse of sounds. I say subtle since this music, not just a collection of s...

The Spiritual Significance of Music Justin St. Vincent  Independent    Justin focused on mainstream entities such as metal, Christian, pop and new age musicians and authors. This leaves me to wonder who was included in the other nine hundred interviews that did not make the cut. Voices such as Native American musicians Sharon Burch, R. Carlos Nakai and Mary Youngblood are missing from the pages, though Native American percussionist Will Clipman contributes his take on spirituality and music.  I am pleased to see Will contribute his reflections, as I am pleased to see Ravi Shankar represented his views in the book. And while you would think the new age authors who focus on the significance of spirit in their personal and professional quests would contribute the most profound insights in this regard, instead provided similar rhetoric or in the case of the German new age couple, Reinhard and Cornelia Flatischler used the opportunity to promote their worksh...

Reynoir Casimir dit Nègoce and Signature The Quadrille of Guadeloupe Buda Musique/ Universal France Gilzene and The Blue Light Mento Band Sweet Sweet Jamaica World Village Those of you living in the far northern hemisphere will appreciate these two sunny recordings hailing from the French Caribbean Island, Guadeloupe and the former British colony, Jamaica. When many people think of the Caribbean, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic come to mind—meringue, soñes,bomba and plena or the rhythms that make up salsa music. The mention of Jamaica brings to mind ska and reggae—the home of the late Bob Marley. I discovered the music of Guadeloupe and the French Caribbean last spring when I researched music of the French Diaspora for a course I taught. The Quadrille of Guadeloupe comes with hefty liner notes explaining the origins of this old world European dance quadrille and its evolution in the New World as interpreted by former African slaves. Similar music is ...

Màrta Sebestyèn I Can See the Gates of Heaven World Village Sofìa Rei Koutsovitis Sube Azul World Village The label World Village provides its listeners with diverse women’s voices. From Peruvian Tania Libertad to Tibetan Soname and too many women musicians to name in this review, the recordings fall somewhere between comfortingly familiar to exotic, with many of the musicians falling into cutting edge. Some of the musicians such as Susan McKeown collect and preserve traditional songs and others such as the globe-trotting women vocalists in the French group Lo’Jo offer a musical stew. Hungarian folklorist and musician Màrta Sebestyèn collects traditional Hungarian songs, and has been doing this since her childhood when she won a song contest. A photograph of her circa 1977 appears in the liner notes in which Màrta collects a field recording from a traditional elder vocalist. However, Màrta with her traditional vocals and ear for beauty is more than a so...

I want to thank Allan Tamm for forwarding this link to me. Just three blocks from Lincoln Center, they arrived at the concert on Thursday night by shelter bus, not taxi or limousine. They took their seats around scarred, round folding tables. The menu was chicken curry and rice served on paper plates. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/arts/music/19soup.html

Laurie Madison, Maasa Craig & Doug Cox Maitri (yogic chants) Independent release (Canada) Yoga chants, sung in Sanskrit have risen in popularity during recent years with the yoga craze in North America. I have heard kirtan chants or mantras sung in Hebrew, YofiYah’s Kabbalah Kirtan (Sounds True), authentic Indian devotional chants and an array of new age recordings. Fusing slide guitar and music genres of the West with yoga mantras though is new to my ears. A musical ensemble under the guise of Maitri, have done just that, created a mix of chants from the Subcontinent with bluegrass tinged harmonies ( vande gurunham ), slide guitar and other western instruments. Mantra recordings provide music for a yogic practice or for musical meditation (singing the chants). The press notes that accompany the CD, mention Nelson (British Columbia) musician and yoga instructor Laurie Madison came up with an idea of combining Indian mantras with Western music, “A means of making yogic ...

 When this new century and decade began I worked as a freelance film journalist.  I attended film festivals, screened films from around the world and interviewed dozens of film directors.  I thought I could avoid returning to writing about music or performing it, after leaving that endeavor in 1997, but when I watched those movies, I found myself focusing on musical elements, such as soundtracks. In 1999, I saw two Canadian films that turned my ears towards classical music, The Red Violin and 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould , (by the same director and writers).  In 2001, I attended the last WOMAD, USA, near Seattle.  I found myself immersed in world music and I quickly fell in love with the global feast for the ears and eyes. Suddenly the world opened up to me.  I received recordings from Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.  I heard music sung in many tongues and played on exotic instruments.  My feet danced to poly rhythms, I ...

1. Sing along with a favorite vocal recording 2. Sing while you work or play 3. Play music for a yoga or other exercise practice 4. Dance 5. Learn or re-learn to play a musical instrument of your choice Perceive the entire world as musical.

Announcement from Pianist Lisa Spector/Through A Dog's Ear FREE MUSIC TO SHELTERS We'd like your assistance on an important community program. Can you help us spread the word about the Through a Dog's Ear Shelter Program? For free, we offer two hours of clinically tested classical piano music to non-profit dog advocacy groups (shelters, dog rescues, service dog organizations, etc.). Currently, Through a Dog's Ear music is being played in 75 shelters in three countries. Please tell your local shelters about our program.   Go to http://www.throughadogsear.com/

A Decade of Music: Top Recordings from 2000-09 Lo'Jo, World Village NPR (National Public Radio) came up with lists of favorite recordings from the last decade.  So I thought I would do the same, but what would be my criteria? Can I include albums produced in 2001 or 2008, if I received those albums years after the release date? I actually have a lot more favorites than what you will see on this list.  All the recordings fall into the world music genre because that is the only genre that I have reviewed for most of the decade.  I started reviewing world music recordings in 2002 when I launched my first music website, Cranky Crow World Music.  Then I began contributing reviews to World Music Central in the spring of 2003.  I did come across older recordings (2000 and 2001), during my first few years of reviewing.  And yes, I am including recordings that I did not receive the same year they were released.  Two examples of that are Barbara...

Mathias Eick, Pasha Hanjana and Ertan Tekin The Three Wise Men Kirkelig Kulturverksted Stephen Brandt-Hansen In the Light of Christmas Kirkelig Kulturverksted Since 2003 when I discovered the Norwegian blues musician Knut Reiersrud, holiday music released on the Norwegian label, Kirkelig Kulturverksted (KKV), has become a tradition for me. Founder of the label, Erik Hillestad and his colleagues produce holiday music with an ethnic edge, certainly the holiday records I listened to as a child did not feature Iranian nays (a reed flute) and Turkish instruments—I only wish that they had! A few years back, the Palestinian vocalist Rim Banna made her European debut on a KKV holiday recording. She would later follow up with three successful solo albums released on the label. For the 2009 holiday releases, trumpet Mathias Eick and tenor Stephen Brandt-Hansen set the stars in the firmament. The Three Wise Men featuring three wise musicians hailing from Norway (multi-instrumenta...

The bulk of recordings I received in late 2008 and 2009 were of classical and traditional (world) genres. Since I had a large pile of classical recordings, some of those recordings ended up on the Top Ten Healing Recordings. I received only a small collection of jazz recordings and some of the recordings I received in 2009 were actually recorded in 2008. Since my biggest discovery of the year was Galician (Spain) music, I included two recordings on the list below, a 2008 jazz recording and a 2009 world music recording. I feel fortunate to have received high quality recordings by some of the best names in classical, jazz and world music. The lists are random, meaning there is no number one spot—all being equal. Best Jazz Recordings (2008-09) 1. New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Book One, World Village 2. Mario Adnet & Philippe Baden Powell, Afro Samba Jazz, Adventure Music 3. Mathias Eick, The Door, ECM (2008 recording) 4. Vaamonde, Lamas & Romero, Vellas Artes, Falcatrua...

Arianna Savall Peiwoh AliaVox I was never a fan of harp music until a few years ago when the editor of World Music Central sent me a sample of Spanish harpist and mezzo-soprano Arianna Savall’s music. Later, I acquired Arianna’s first solo album, Bella Terra , which also refers to her homeland in Catalonia, Spain. Arianna’s music cannot be easily described since it has absorbed elements from Arabic and Eastern music along with elements from European early music, in fact, the musician plays a baroque harp. She sings in Catalan, a Romance language nearly lost during the Franco era and related to France’s Provencal language, according to the DK Guide to Spain (Eyewitness Travel Guides). Arianna with her choice of poetic text and performance of soprano vocals with harp gives off an angelic aura. Her music so carefully rendered with baroque instruments (lutes, percussion, harps) and mixed with traditional instruments such as Petter Johansen’s hardingfele (Norwegian fiddle) l...