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I've just returned from my semi-annual private meditation retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Once again, the mountain magic of sound (wind in trees, babbling brook), light and fresh prana-filled air provided a blessed rejuvenation of body, mind and spirit. Being out in nature has always been a powerful ally to help men and women reconnect with their true, spiritual nature. But some people like high mountains, some like deserts, some like forests ... where do you feel most at home? For me, two basic locations come up most consistently: This particular electromagnetically charged Smoky Mountain forest vortex, and walking and sitting at the edge of the ocean in South Florida or Hawaii. I often listen to the album I'm currently working on in a these natural settings. It helps me “hear” more deeply into the music, and inspiration flows more freely. As I was walking along the shore at twilight on a recent visit, I decided to listen to a personal CD I had burned of my own favorite piano compositions. The sound of the gentle ocean waves provided a perfect backdrop for the Zen-like, impressionistic melodies. But more than that! — the rhythmic surges and pauses of the gentle surf coincided perfectly with the notes and pauses of the music! The effect was much more powerful than either by itself. I wondered if this could be re-created in the studio, so that others could experience the joy and meditative bliss as well. Interestingly, this was the only day out of seven that the ocean was this calm and gently rhythmic. Luckily, I had come prepared with my DAT (digital audio tape recorder) and captured the moment, and the ambience. I still didn't know, however, if the wonderfully obvious entrainment effect could be reproduced when I combined my music and the recorded ocean in the studio. My engineer cued up the ocean tracks; about fifteen seconds later, I felt guided to begin the music. And voila! Just like my epiphany at the beach, the music and waves were in virtual perfect sync. If you listen carefully to as little as the first minute, you'll hear what I'm trying to describe. The waves transform the music into a whole new dimension, by providing a rhythmic framework in which it is easier to hear the subtle compositional structure that came thru when I spontaneously, co-creatively composed these songs. Even my engineer, who has heard a lot of my music, commented on the striking nature of this nature and music duet. That was the moment I knew that the “experiment” was a success. Whether you listen meditatively, or as background ambience, I think you'll agree. (And if you don't live near the ocean, this can save you a lot of travel stress and sunburn: it's a virtual vacation without leaving your home, any time you so desire). The samples on my website will give you a taste, but this meal is definitely best enjoyed in its entirety. In fact, several of my friends have already reported that they program their CD player for continuous play to maintain the continuity of the vibe for hours. By the way, as a bonus, the final fifteen minutes feature the ocean by itself. If you are so inspired, you might explore combining this wonderful ocean with other music that you enjoy. Some will no doubt fit better than others. I've listened to many recordings of oceans, including many of the budget priced CDs that seem to show up almost everywhere nowadays. If there's one thing that's clear, “all recordings of oceans are not created equal!” This ocean is one of the best I’ve ever heard. Although this new album, Ocean Suite, won't be in stores until September, advance copies will be available through our website in late July. Stop by for a free sample in the meanwhile, and let me know what you think. Steven Halpern is one of the world's leading composers of music for healing, wellness, and inner peace. His latest recordings include PERFECT ALIGNMENT, featuring Grammy award winner Paul McCandless, and INNER PEACE II, with Madeleine Singer. Look for them at Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, your neighborhood independent retailer, or online at www.innerpeacemusic.com. For a free catalogue call 1-800-909-0707 |
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