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Music Reviews article continued from previous page “I am bound upon a wheel of fire.” -King Lear This quotation on the inside cover of “Hymns of the Ancient Fire,” and the illustration of a glowing phoenix, were the first things that caught my eye as I opened this CD. They both turned out to be prophetic of the music that was to follow. With the first few notes of Gregorian chant, I was spellbound. Oreade Music has invited a number of musicians to work on a great theme and present it to audiences in their own unique ways. Simon Cooper and Phillip Webb composed Ancient Fire's music to explore-and celebrate-the theme of the Phoenix, the flame that never began nor ever stopped, the fire that purifies, the resurrection. With the voices of soprano Natalie Clifton-Griffith, Gregorian chants, classical choir, and boys choir, the Holy Flame is treated with great reverence. The tempo varies from Medieval to contemporary, and the instrumentation includes modern synthesizers, sampled instruments, and such timeless instruments as the cathedral organ, wooden recorder, oboe, and drums. This mystical and contemplative music is such a rich tapestry, so magical and awe-inspiring! You've
just pulled your car into your driveway after
struggling through afternoon rush hour traffic.
You've been dodging Kamikaze SUV's and
crawling along in first gear past fender benders.
Your nerves are jangled and you need to settle
down! Here's my recommendation: turn on
your cd player and listen to Shanti-Shanti
(“peace” and “silence”
in Sanskrit) by Yashu and Harida.
You've seen their work praised here before,
and their new album is their best yet, to
my mind. With Yashu's flute, tanpura,
and keyboard, and with Harida's santoor,
gongs, keyboard, and percussion, their music
will bring your mind to stillness and peace
in no time. This music is as tranquil as sunrise
over a calm sea. The inspiration for this
album came from a series of concerts they
gave for healing and massage trainings. They
created Shanti-Shanti as a full hour of soft
music (no track breaks or changes of tempo
to distract you) for use during bodywork sessions
to support deep relaxation. The music has
a Zen-like appreciation for the spaces between
notes and the value of simplicity. The santoor
and tanpura bring the flavor of India, and
the flute and soft chimes will melt all tension
away. So, “Shanti-Shanti!-relax,
go slow, stay in touch with your center,”
as Yashu and Harrida tell their harried friends.
Kathryn
Sargent is the very blessed editor of Aquarius.
Contact her at aquarius-editor@mindspring.com. |