New Age Vibe » Genre

Escape into Cinematic Piano | Marc Enfroy

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:10:58 +0000

Cinematic Piano – What’s it? If that name sounds uncommon, read on. Marc Enfroy is releasing his debut album Unbounded in the end of August 2008, in ‘Cinematic Piano’ style. I had the chance of listening to pre-release copy of the album and I’d say it’s a wonderful piece of art.

Marc is quite a new comer yet he takes you on for a pleasure ride like a maestro through his Unbounded. Composed of 12 tracks, the album feels like a fragrance of memories tuned to your memories. As Marc puts it on his video preview of his album, the album is an “Escape”, escape from this world of limited reality into unbounded world of thoughts.

I re-lived my whole life up until now, listening this beautiful album, some most joyful and some most painful. Particularly, listening to Night in the Seine and Solitary Journey, I felt like reading through the pages of In Memoriam by Alfred Lord Tennyson — the memories of a loved ones who are no more…

Unbounded Preview

The track listing of the album:

Forbidden Island
Taken Away
Unbounded
On to Forever
Moonlit Dreams
Kalliope’s Courtyard
Empire Bluff
Memories in the Sand
The Summit
Mare Nostrum
Night in the Seine
Solitary Journey

I remember still, that I didn’t answer my own question. What’s cinematic piano, BTW? Listening to Unbounded, I felt there is some ‘new’ness… some harmony… I felt the depth of emotions contained in it but what’s ‘cinematic’ about it? Video preview is quite helpful to understand it. I felt like taken to Titanic and then through the misty clouds of DreamWorks. But still, it doesnt answer fully. Well, I’m no better to explain that than Marc himself. I had a few ‘email’ chat with Marc on his music and here he answers…

Marc: Cinematic piano is a blend of beautiful piano melodies with touching orchestral arrangements to create emotionally charged themes like those heard in dramatic film scenes.

Shankar: Are you bringing in a new genre (sub-genre) by your music, which you call Cinematic Piano?

Marc: Yes I would like to. I have found a few artists with a similar style but not many. I would like to create a new category of music in this style so it becomes a recognized sub-genre. Not sure if it will happen but that would be very nice.

Shankar: What will be your future albums like…. Can one expect “Cinematic piano” style?

Marc:Yes…you can expect Cinematic Piano for the next album.

Shankar: Where do you draw inspiration for your music?

Marc: Musical influences include Jim Brickman, Yanni, 2002, Tim Janis, James Horner (film composer).

Shankar: Do you practice any kind of meditation or intend your music to help listeners to meditate or relax deeply?

Marc: The music has helped many listeners relax, become calm, deal with pain management, enjoy a massage, perform yoga, etc. So yes, it has that side benefit.

Shankar: Whom do you thank for your wonderful music talent?

Marc: My mother and grandfather. My mom is very musical (sings and plays piano) and her father was a country music radio pioneer (you can read about this at http://MarcEnfroy.com/about.html )

That’s all for the brief chat we had. Marc also gives a free mp3 music when you join his newsletter. And he ‘talks’ with you really, hears your voice and doesn’t make you feel like your emails go to his spam bucket. I think that’s very cool to feel like being a close group.

Where to buy Unbounded? Unbounded goes on sale on August 26, 2008 at http://MarcEnfroy.com. CD’s can be pre-ordered at MarcEnfroy.com between August 1 and August 25, 2008 (buy 1 CD, get a 2nd CD for half off during the pre-sale promotion). Once the CD is officially released on August 26, it will be available for purchase at MarcEnfroy.com, CDfreedom.com, iTunes, Napster.com, eMusic.com, Rhapsody.com and AmazonMP3.com.

Post from: New Age Vibe

From the dreams and legends until now – Celtic new age music by Dimo Mitchev

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:17:09 +0000

The music of Dimo Mitchev blends elements of Celtic, Renaissance and New Age styles using traditional classical instruments to create a sound at once soothing and evocative. His debut album “Bard’s Fly” is very well thought out in form, structure, character and an enchanting feature with each track that seemed to take you deeper and deeper into the world of the ancient celtic times – times of heroes and honour.

Primarily a composer, Dimo Mitchev developed a keen ear for the ethnical sounds of the world’s many musical styles, like mostly exposed to Medieval and Renaissance music.
These experiences, along with an appreciation for the inherent beauty of the sounds lead him far away from his homeland into the cold Moscow, where he recorded “Bard’s Fly” with the help of students from Russian Academy of Music (Gnesin).

Most of the compositions revolve around the classical instruments as harp, violin, violoncello, bassoon, oboe, flute and etc. In the context of his music, however the mix of Ancient and Modern helps to transport the listener into new realms bound only by the imagination.

When listening to his music, one can feel a concern for the planet and an awareness of the dangers to life in a shrinking world. But there is also a sense of hope and a positive life energy that balances these concerns. In a world facing complex and overwhelming difficulty, his music creates an atmosphere of calm, peace and understanding.

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The Present – Timeless music for well being | Torben Thoger

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:34:33 +0000

Bethbetty was kind enough to update my post on Torben Thoger’s Akasha with his comments. The Present which was expected to be released in latter 2008 has been released and here you see a wonderful track, Primavera, from it accompanied by video.

Soft and soothing, this track speaks to my heart optimistically. Violin is melting with tunes and my heart.

This beautiful and catchy instrumental music is both relaxing and uplifting, with dynamic and meaningful undertones. Gentle guitars and violins accent this journey into a new universe of sound, an exciting expedition leading to a deeper experience of the senses. The Present is relief for the soul! The album was recorded and mixed in Samso, Denmark and Alicante, Spain, and is the successor to the best-selling album Harmony. (source)

Beth, I’m with you –Primavera is one of the best tracks and has the creativity and gentleness in creation to remain evergreen. I wish to review this The Present soon. And BTW, what a name!

The Present is a gift for those who understand, indeed!

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Discography: Omar Akram | Albums: Secret Journey and Free as a Bird

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:38:13 +0000

Name of Album: Secret Journey

Artist Name:Omar Akram

Released on: September 25, 2007
Label: Real Music
Buy: Secret Journey by Omar Akram

Tracks:

1. Run Away With Me
2. Secret Journey
3. Nomadic Rhapsody
4. Passage Of The Heart
5. Gypsy Spirit
6. Stargazers
7. Seven Secrets
8. Whispers In The Moonlight
9. Mirage
10. Shimmering Star
11. Caravan
12. Angel Of Hope

Name of Album: Free As A Bird
Released on: April 27, 2004
Label: Real Music
Buy: Free As A Bird by Omar Akram

Tracks:

1. Free As A Bird
2. Passage Into Midnight
3. A Day With You
4. Falling Through The Rain
5. Beauty Unveiled
6. Dancing With The Wind
7. Surrender
8. Riding The Current
9. Never Let Go
10. Trust Unspoken
11. Flight Of Mystery

Post from: New Age Vibe

And finally…. Origins | Enya or Jillian Goldin?

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:19:33 +0000

Many weeks ago, I wrote my first post on Jillian Goldin’s Origins. To recall, RJ Lannan of New Age Reporter said “Where Enya Brennan left off, Jillian Goldin could make a good beginning.” and I, for one, wanted to listen to Goldin’s Origins and value its merit on my own. It’s time for it now.

Since when I got this album last week, I kept listening to it for I don’t want to take a quick sip and base my review on it. First, I like to thankful for the Goldin’s wonderful work of art. Having a taste for Wordsworth, Francis Thompson, Robert Frost and so forth, I couldn’t keep myself away from commenting on the simple yet deep moving thoughts and feelings captured through the lyrics–short crisp well chosen words, to be concise.

Into light
Into sound
Into time
Let love surround
Let love surround

Lyric (from Deliverance of the Heart) as simple as above through her enigmatic voice conveys a lot, emphasizing the lines in the liner notes:

Noting the lack of lyric-centric works in contemporary New Age music, through Origins Jillian emphasizes her belief that words and music together have the potential to traverse exciting terrain, weaving an elaborate tapestry of sound and thought that is unique to one’s own perceptions. The album is as much an exploration in text as in music, unified by themes of mystery, plight, and catharsis.

Reading the credit section of the album, I was quite surprised to note that Jillian Goldin has written the lyric for all songs, performed all of them and composed music for most of them. Origins composed of 9 vocal tracks and 2 instrumental tracks (11 in total) is a creation of Jillian Goldin (lyric, music, and performance) and Andrew Aversa who has taken the production and Engineering for the album.

Track Listing

Hajime
Red July
The Winds of Change
The Secret Guards of Kalé
Wildland (Instrumental)
Twilight Chaser
To the Forgotten Temple… (Instrumental)
Breathe and Dive
Avalon
Shadows
Deliverance of the Heart

To be fair, I must acknowledge that the very first track Hajime hasnt impressed me anyway. I felt the lyric howsoever good doesn’t fit into the music and the music seemed like a foot cutout (and puffed in) to fit the size of the shoe. Except for that track, I enjoyed listening to Origins and it’s a worthy collection in my music library both for its literary and musical value. I wish Jillian Goldin and Andrew Aversa a very good future and look forward for more promising albums in future, also.

PS: About the Enya vs Goldin stuff, I still feel that Enya stands apart for what her music feels like. Goldin may or may not be compared to Enya, but all that, I feel, cannot be concluded by Origins, alone. Time decides….

Post from: New Age Vibe

My favorite Osho Music Albums

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:40:34 +0000

“Music comes closest to meditation. Just beyond music is meditation: one step more and you are in meditation. And music is the most beautiful door. Listen to music so totally that the listener disappears in the listening, that there is only music and you are not, that you are an emptiness and the music fills you. There is no observer even, nobody to appreciate, to judge. Listen to music without judgement, without evaluation, and it will become your deepest meditation.”

Osho, Hallelujah! Chapter #31

If you ask me, if there is a choice between philosophy, religion, science, music; if there is a choice for me to choose one and all the remaining ones will disappear from the earth, I will choose music. Because if music is there, religion will follow. It cannot disappear.

Osho

Well said!! Osho, to me, was an uncommon alchemist who turned every ordinary thing that goes unnoticed in our busy-bee day life to mean something special and use it as a tool for self-development. Here are three of my favorite Osho Music albums. Music has never meant the same ordinary thing to me as before after listening to these!

My Favorite Osho Music Albums

1. Yes To The River

BUY AT AMAZON

2. This! Commentaries of the Bamboos

BUY AT AMAZON

3. I Keep On Loving You

BUY AT AMAZON

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Sonu Niigaam performing live at Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia’s 70th birthday celebration

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:50:36 +0000

5 days passed since Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia’s 70th birthday. Living in Pondicherry in South India, it was not possible for me to attend the grand function in Mumbai (24hrs travel by train from my place) for Hariji’s bday. I hoped for some fans of Harji who have been to the function to upload the perforamance on youtube. At last here is a video from the function — Sonu Nigam, “India’s best playback singer or as the Golden Voice of Indipop”, performing live at Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia’s 70th birthday celebration. I wish Harji’s fans upload more video music from the function, especially classical ragas.

Post from: New Age Vibe

Upanishad Amrut — the essence of Vedas in music

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:34:40 +0000

In my ever longing search to understand the Upanishads, I found this album UPANISHAD AMRUT by Panit Shivkumar Sharma to be an excellent one for mediation and thereby understanding Upanishad personally. The sanskrit slokas receited by Shankar Mahadevan and Dewaki Pandit take the listener to ethereal space and bring peace and harmony to the listener. I’m listening to it @ work where my DJ D.M., plays this album so often and I cannot describe the joyfulness I feel after listening to the album, especially to the Yan Manasa Na Manute Yena track.

Pitiably, there isn’t any review on this album on Amazon. If you look upon amazon reviews before your purchase, you will be missing this wonderful album in your music library. I recommend this album for all my readers who are caught by the mysticism of India; you will feel extremely fulfilled for each penny that you spend for this album.

Have a great day!

	Disc: 1 1. Asato Ma Sada Gamaya 2. Isavasyam Idam Sarvam 3. Yan Manasa Na Manute Yena 4. Uttishthata Jagrata Prapya 5. Sa Yathema Nadayah 6. Nayam-Atma Bala-Hinena 7. Upanishad Amrut 8. Upanishad Amrut 9. Upanishad Amrut 10. Upanishad Amrut
BUY FROM AMAZON	Disc: 2 1. Nantah-Prajanam Na Bahis-Prajanam 2. Yato Vacho Nivartante 3. Esa Brahmaisa Indra Esa Prajapatirete 4. Sa Ya Esho Nima Aitadatmyam 5. Brahma VA Idamagara 6. Upanishad Amrut 7. Upanishad Amrut 8. Upanishad Amrut 9. Upanishad Amrut 10. Upanishad Amrut

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Mantras for My Children… and Yours

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:53:39 +0000

Neither I’m married nor am I a father of a child who has known all the patting and pissing of children. Yet I can present you with Mantras for your children.

“Mantras for my children…and yours: Sanskrit chants to calm active children,” is a mantra meditation cd produced by stay-at-home mother, Nina Patel, to help calm and relax active children by means of chanting mantras. Her interest in producing the mantra cd came about by chance. She is Reiki Healer and practices Yoga, Tai Chi and Dahn Mu Do.

“I noticed my children became more relaxed as they heard me chant mantras and affirmations in the morning, a ritual that I practice for personal growth,” says Nina who goes by the artist name Mantra Mom. “So, I started chanting mantras with my children on our way to school to center them for the day and before bedtime to ease them to sleep. I also chanted mantras to soothe them during times of anxiousness. What I eventually found was that chanting became a great emotional release for my children when they had difficulty articulating their feelings,” she adds.

In the press release it is said that “Unlike any other mantra cd on the market, the mantras are performed like a rap to a backdrop of hip-hop music, making chanting fun and easy for children of today’s generation. The tracks are also purposefully arranged to slowly ease the child to a calm meditative state by gradually moving from hip-hop to moody new age music.”

This 10 track album was released on May 8th and it’s 10% of the sales would go to Vibha, a non-profit organization that helps builds schools and provide healthcare for underprivileged children in India. You can avail this CS at Mantramom.com, Cdbaby.com, Amazon.com (August) and Target.com (in August).

Post from: New Age Vibe

I lost myself when I see them in Hang

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:03:46 +0000

Music has the magic of turning sadness into happiness, reality into dreamy, death to life (I have heard death-to-life Indian tales!). Often it happens… I found myself missed somewhere amidst New Age music, World, Celtic, Ambient, and Carnatic. I guess the title “I lost myself when I see them in Hang” may mean something dramatic if you are unaware of a relatively new musical Instrument “Hang”.

To my Enya and Yanni friendly ears, this very strange instrument become too close to heart as I do with Jim Brickman’s piano and Kitaro’s bells. Hang was created in Jan 2000 at Switzerland by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer of the PANArt Company. Hang is generally placed in the lap and played using fingers to produce different sounds with each and every stroke.

I would call it a hybrid variety of steel drum, gamelan, and gong. But the note can resemble like a Harp, Bells, harmonically tuned Steelpans, Ghatam, Tabala and Veena. I can’t imagine how ‘two hemispherical steel shells’ can make such a beautiful, soft, and soothing music. I was completely lost in the way the instrument is played and by the music out of it (Youtube has plenty of videos). Though there are 5000 Hang players worldwide, we have only 2 hang makers so orders are taken in limited basis. With the growing popularity, Hang would probably set out a new musical experience and harmony around us.

Love to listen Hang? yeah…here is a video for you.

Post from: New Age Vibe