Classical Music for Meditation?

[Robert]

Nothing better than silence for me.

I have been giving this some thought. I know all the years I meditated the part of meditation I loved best was the quietness, stillness, the now.......I was enjoying the time away from  music....Perhaps a better title would be music for relaxation....

[Anne]

I would make my own CD.  So far I only have 4 tracks:

1)  "Meditation of Thais" from the opera, Thais, by Jules Massenet,

2)  "Dance of the Blessed Spirits" from the opera, Orfeo ed Euridice, by Gluck,

3)  "Dawn on the Moscow River," from the opera, Khovanshchina, by Moussorgsky,

4)  "Humming Chorus and Intermezzo" from the opera, Madama Butterfly, by Puccini and conducted by Karajan on the DVD.

[Anne]

The following CD has very even dynamics and has been one of my favorites for meditation, relaxation, music to go to sleep, etc.  Dmitri Hvorostovsky is a Russian baritone who sings with the chorus.

http://www.amazon.com/Kalinka-Russian-Songs-Dmitri-Hvorostovsky/dp/B00000HY87/ref=sr_1_4/104-6944379-3143911?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1189304759&sr=1-4

The choral singing was so beautifully done that I must have listened 20 times before I realized there were no instruments accompanying the chorus.  The CD has been given 5 stars and I agree.  These are Russian folksongs.

The following is from the editor's review of this CD:

Dimitri Hvorostovsky, born and bred in Siberia, has Russian folk music in his soul. So do about 100 million other Russians, of course, but they don't have his magnificent voice. When his artistry is joined with that of the Saint Petersburg Chamber Chorus, the result is hard to beat, especially when the arrangements were made by such composers as Shostakovich and Rimsky-Korsakov. Don't expect happy songs, although some of the offerings on this disc, such as the title song "Kalinka," have their rollicking passages. In characteristic fashion, the lyrics dwell plaintively on laments for lost love or melancholy recollections of the Russian countryside. Unusually for a Russian chorus, the Saint Petersburg ensemble is not dominated by the lower-pitched male voices but by the women, blissfully free from stridency, who swell their cadences in the way so typical of Russian liturgical music. The disc is accompanied by the Russian text and a useful English translation, although both suffer from minor errors. --Ed Killham
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If you like this CD, you also might like Hvorostovsky's Songs and Dances of
Death.   Maybe not for meditation, relaxation, etc. but a beautiful CD in its own way.


http://www.amazon.com/Dmitri-Hvorostovsky-Songs-Dances-Gergiev/dp/B00000418A/ref=sr_1_10/104-6944379-3143911?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1189306290&sr=1-10

Amazon review by Robert Levine:
Mussorgsky's four songs known collectively as Songs and Dances of Death make up 20 minutes of the most intense storytelling in 19th-century song. At first, Hvorostovsky's voice seems almost too beautiful, his sound almost too youthful to fill out these narratives, but his concentration and breath control are so sensational that we realize what he's up to. He's spinning us seductively into the spooky world of these songs, where Death converses in turn with the mother of a dying child, a young girl, an old peasant, and dying soldiers; Hvorostovsky nicely changes his tone for each song. The rest of the CD is equally fine, with two arias from Anton Rubinstein's The Demon particularly compelling. Quite an adventure! --Robert Levine

[Kullervo]

I have been giving this some thought. I know all the years I meditated the part of meditation I loved best was the quietness, stillness, the now.......I was enjoying the time away from  music....Perhaps a better title would be music for relaxation....

Well, I don't meditate, but I kayak. There is nothing quite like rowing out to an oyster bar and enjoying the flush of nothingness all around. Silence is for me more important than music because it makes music necessary.

[LVB_opus.125]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but these items may be of interest (non-classical, but I can't imagine meditating to classical; there's always too much going on, even in baroque stuff).

West meets east. This is perfect, imo.

Detached, yet beautiful ambient music from the master of the genre.

Lush electronic music played in hypnotic repetition. I *nearly* fell asleep to this once, and in a very good way.
None of the above are to be confused with new age music, as they contain much artistic merit worthy of investigation.

[Solitary Wanderer]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but these items may be of interest (non-classical, but I can't imagine meditating to classical; there's always too much going on, even in baroque stuff).

West meets east. This is perfect, imo.

Detached, yet beautiful ambient music from the master of the genre.

Lush electronic music played in hypnotic repetition. I *nearly* fell asleep to this once, and in a very good way.
None of the above are to be confused with new age music, as they contain much artistic merit worthy of investigation.

I have some Terry Riley, but not the one you suggest. I also have several Brian Eno recordings including the one you mention which is excellent, although I prefer the second in the Ambient series The Plauteux of Mirror. I don't have any Steve Roach, but check out some sample of the title you recommend. Thanks

[LVB_opus.125]

I was thinking of Harold Budd too, but I forgot to include it. Also, check out The Pearl asap, as it continues Eno/Budd's greatness.

[sadness]

I'd suggest some Philip Glass, Metamorphosis with its hypnotic quality might work.

That's what I was thinking, too.

And maybe Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians and Eight Lines.

A few other people mentioned Brian Eno; Ambient 2 with Harold Budd is particularly good, and so is The Equatorial Stars with Robert Fripp.

John Cale, La Monte Young, et al., Day of Niagara might also be worth a listen.

[bwv 1080]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but these items may be of interest (non-classical, but I can't imagine meditating to classical; there's always too much going on, even in baroque stuff).

West meets east. This is perfect, imo.

Detached, yet beautiful ambient music from the master of the genre.

Lush electronic music played in hypnotic repetition. I *nearly* fell asleep to this once, and in a very good way.
None of the above are to be confused with new age music, as they contain much artistic merit worthy of investigation.

The Eno / Jon Hassell Fourth World Vol 1 and 2 are great discs in the same vein

[Solitary Wanderer]

I guess I'm really looking for music that features classical instrumentation, and preferbly without vocals.

I've bought this disc via the suggestions on this thread and its perfect.



I listened to a number of Arvo Part samples from his other albums on Amazon, but they all had vocals; nice sounding albums but not suitable for my specific requirements.

Is Arvo Part classical? Maybe I should be looking into the extensive ECM catalogue? I used to love the ECM releases but I'm moved away from that jazzy-fusion approach which they promote. I had a look at the ECM website yesterday but Part isn't listed Its hard to know what other albums on their site sound like 'cause theres no samples

[bhodges]

This one, Orient Occident, has vocals on one piece.  I have it but haven't listened to it yet...maybe this will spur me to do so tonight.  Here is an interesting review:

http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/p/partarvo-orient.shtml



--Bruce

[Solitary Wanderer]

This one, Orient Occident, has vocals on one piece.  I have it but haven't listened to it yet...maybe this will spur me to do so tonight.  Here is an interesting review:

http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/p/partarvo-orient.shtml



--Bruce

Sounds good Bruce, but theres no samples for this one on Amazon

I'll keep hunting around

Just listened to the [very brief] samples of this and it sounds good, although this type of music is what I've already been listening to for years; I love it but I'm looking for a more classically orientated approach.

Maybe there isn't one

[Lethevich]

I listened to a number of Arvo Part samples from his other albums on Amazon, but they all had vocals; nice sounding albums but not suitable for my specific requirements.

I think I recall you saying that you found Gorecki's 3rd symphony useful for the task? If so, then Pärt's other popular instrumental ensemble works may be good. They're not as quiet as Alina or Spiegel, but if the textures and dynamics of the 3rd are ok then these will be fine. The ones from the same rough era are Fratres, Festina Lente, Summa (string orchestra version - originally choral), Cantus and Tabula Rasa. These pages seem to have samples:

http://www.amazon.com/P%C3%A4rt-Fratres-France-Springuel/dp/B000003D0Q
http://www.amazon.com/Arvo-P%C3%A4rt-Fratres-Istvan-Hartenstein/dp/B0000014AG
http://www.amazon.com/Tabula-Rasa-Arvo-Part/dp/B0000262K7

The ECM is widely liked. My favourite recording of misc. Pärt works is not recommended often, and I am not sure how easy it would be to get - it's on EMI with Studt/Bournemouth Sinfonietta (I think now Classics for Pleasure), and is a very well-played and interpreted introduction.

Is Arvo Part classical?

Yep, to be honest I'm surprised you haven't heard of him yet - he's enormously popular. The Wikipedia article may be of some use.

[andy]

As a practicing meditator, I can tell you that for me, the best meditation music in the "classical" repertoire is: Morton Feldman.

Wow, I can't believe it too so long for someone to bring up Feldman. His music is ideal for meditation. Just about any of it will work... I especially recommend Triadic Memories.

[Solitary Wanderer]

I think I recall you saying that you found Gorecki's 3rd symphony useful for the task? If so, then Pärt's other popular instrumental ensemble works may be good. They're not as quiet as Alina or Spiegel, but if the textures and dynamics of the 3rd are ok then these will be fine. The ones from the same rough era are Fratres, Festina Lente, Summa (string orchestra version - originally choral), Cantus and Tabula Rasa. These pages seem to have samples:

http://www.amazon.com/P%C3%A4rt-Fratres-France-Springuel/dp/B000003D0Q
http://www.amazon.com/Arvo-P%C3%A4rt-Fratres-Istvan-Hartenstein/dp/B0000014AG
http://www.amazon.com/Tabula-Rasa-Arvo-Part/dp/B0000262K7

The ECM is widely liked. My favourite recording of misc. Pärt works is not recommended often, and I am not sure how easy it would be to get - it's on EMI with Studt/Bournemouth Sinfonietta (I think now Classics for Pleasure), and is a very well-played and interpreted introduction.

Yep, to be honest I'm surprised you haven't heard of him yet - he's enormously popular. The Wikipedia article may be of some use.

Yes, the Gorecki was good but not really ideal for meditation. I'm still interested to explore more of his music in general.

Yep, I'm aware of Part; I was being ironic hence the 

[Lethevich]

Yes, the Gorecki was good but not really ideal for meditation. I'm still interested to explore more of his music in general.

Yep, I'm aware of Part; I was being ironic hence the 

Hmm... I fail on multiple levels

[Solitary Wanderer]

Hmm... I fail on multiple levels

Your comments and suggestions are most welcome 

[LVB_opus.125]

Sounds good Bruce, but theres no samples for this one on Amazon

I'll keep hunting around

Just listened to the [very brief] samples of this and it sounds good, although this type of music is what I've already been listening to for years; I love it but I'm looking for a more classically orientated approach.

Maybe there isn't one

Satie is the only composer I know of that I can "meditate" to. I feel that the test is whether or not I'm able to read complicated texts while listening to music. I can do this with ambient/electronic music, Indian Classical Music, and other eastern musics. But Western Classical is to FORM oriented, and it distracts for a good reason; it's meant to be payed attention to, even a Haydn string quartet that sounds so pleasent.

[Varg]

Part's Alina is great, very quiet and melancholic. May i suggest Tabula Rasa; "Ludus" (the first part) is not what you're looking for, but "Silentium" (the second and last part) is right up you're alley; if you like Alina, you'll worship this!

[George]

Jackpot!! 

http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Indian-Flute-Featuring-Virtuoso/dp/B000TVJQZU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-3484879-1065746?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1191624251&sr=8-1