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The Sounding Board by R J Lannan |
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RJ Lannan is the reviewer for The Sounding Board. |
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| Muses of Aqua |
| By The Luminous World Orchestra |
| Label: Brahmasong Records |
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| Muses of Aqua tracks |
1. Grassland
2. Aqua Velvet
3. Beautiful Release
4. Glass Ring
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5. Lotus Day
6. Still Water
7. Healing Hands
8. Twilight Flight
9. Sunset Wind
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'Muses of Aqua' and 'Deva' - A New Voice |
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I think everyone will agree that without its musical score a motion picture would be quite unexciting. The supercharged apprehension of the villain, the gravity defying car chase or the plunging of an aircraft from 35,000 feet is more identifiable and frightening with a terrific background of emotional music. But what if someone writes a brilliant soundtrack without a movie? What if you had to mentally make your own movie? Well, there are two new albums of neo-symphonic music from Luminous World Orchestra that allows you to do just that. Companion recordings Muses of Aqua and Deva, conducted by Steven Chesne, are emotionally filled scores that build scene after scene of mental vignettes of your own making. Talk about interactive music!
In the opening cut of Muses of Aqua called Grassland the Native American flute was the guide that began my travels. The orchestra gave it a soundtrack feel, but with a pastoral flavor of open sky and those much-talked about amber waves of grain. For more than eight minutes the meadows rolled under me in colors of green and gold as the air turned fresh and the wind added a rush of warmth. I heard boundless energy and fertile plains of imagination.
I recall a scene in an old movie where the character spun a ring and a voice from it revealed all the knowledge of the world to him. Listening to the Glass Ring reminded me of that. A soft, slow, sensual flute spins a song of quietude and grace. What was revealed to me? You will have to find your own interpretation.
Sunset Wind starts with tinkling wind chimes, warm woodwinds and Native American flute. The continuous sound of the wind chimes reminds me that there is always the breath of life blowing across the planet and the song of the flute is a reminder that the miracle of the day is forever in our lives. From sun up to sundown, the sound of the planet is full of life.
From Vedic tradition we know that Devas are a part of the large group of deities that guard heaven, earth and air. Chesne takes the myth and magic of the sacred folklore and transforms it into a manifestation that circles the globe with ethnic instrumentation and World music tracks. The album Deva is a blissful and sublime experience. It is not exactly a journey. It is more of an experience and you get to construct it as you hear fit.
Cantus Firmus or Song of the Land is slow, haunting and very inspiring. At over twelve minutes it is a sonic experience unto itself. It is however, a bit musically deceiving. At first I thought Celtic, then I was transported to the Far East, but next I was halfway around the world and I ended up in the southwest of the United States. The music took me in another direction altogether, but I traveled serenely to my favorite places.
The Chinese erhu pendulously beckons me from the Far East and into the western world in Maya. You can hear the sadness between the notes as Chesne presents the musical tribute to a culture that disappeared mysteriously from the Central Americas. Keeping to the album’s theme it is known that the Maya believed that the gods had an unseen hand in everyday living. You can certainly hear the power and magic of the gods in the song.
Gathering is the most sober and dramatic cut on the album. It is an orchestral congregation of a number of ethnic instruments with a common theme; that all come together through the understanding and sharing of music and that goes for the listener as well.
The list of awards that Steven Chesne has garnered is staggering and longer than this review. Let me just say that this composer has earned his chops. His quixotic collusion among ethnic instruments and the orchestra is unique, refreshing and above all else, stimulating. Although each album can be enjoyed immensely on its own, I highly recommend that you pair up the two for a long, long period of aural enjoyment and sensual inspiration. The Luminous World Orchestra is elightening.
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Rating: Excellent  |
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- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 1/2/2008 |
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