We are so overstimulated by our technologies that we are not getting enough deep thinking time A lot of people associate minor music with sadness and they’d be right. But the tempo of a minor tune if raised, can sound happy like REM’s “Losing My Religion” – the structure and lyrics are sad but you dance along all the same. Its when you bring the tempo down and stretch the notes and repeat interlocking phrases with instruments such as strings and doleful angelic-voices and guitars that you get a weaving of sounds that can deliver what seems clearly more soul-searching and even melancholic. I like the word melancholy. I’ve never associated it with real sadness. It’s like what Victor Hugo says about it: Melancholy is the happiness of being sad. Its the pleasure and soothing quality of slow or minor key music that creates a deeper expansive place for contemplation. Of course the last thing I want to do is plop our One Mind Live members into a nose dive of misery ! I hope in this case “ Meditation in D minor ” I have the mix right… The repeating guitar riff is always climbing – so thats theA Meditation In D Minor – by Stephen Fearnley
Evening Prayer – O Gladsome Light! – by Stephen Fearnley
I quite often bump into a paradox when making sacred music for OML : Im very conscientious of composing music that feels like a journey or perhaps a landscape or a space that can embrace a very singular intention- such as love or peace or wellbeing or even a specific chakra or even a colour . At the same time – and heres the paradox – this soundscape has to be pared down in detail so that it doesn’t get in the way of your own experience. More like a sandy path that provides a direction – to stop you wandering just enough to keep you in a place that is intrinsically aimed at deep thought- so you can reach alpha brainwave states without trying. This month’s composer’s choice is called Evening Prayer – a universal practise that is found in all religious and sacred rituals. You will notice this universality in the instruments I’ve chosen, even including some slightly detuned Indonesian bells primarily to keep your mind present so you don’t drift off too soon… Ive even referenced ( not sampled) a rhythmic sequence from a song called “ Teardrop” by Massive Attack (1998). I found the lyrics goingEvening Prayer – O Gladsome Light! – by Stephen Fearnley
Power Up Your Spoken Word with G – by Stephen Fearnley
This months composer’s choice ‘Clouds Passing By’ has been written for you to sing to… Start for 3 minutes. Then try for 5. If you go for 15 minutes you will feel enlivened ! Winter skies here. Cold dry westerly winds. Happily rugged up at home watching the clouds scud across the sky and reviewing this months’ composer’s choice Clouds Passing By with my headphones on. The Key of G. Throat Chakra. Mixolydian scale. Sounds fancy . So why the throat chakra ? We all know that ancient and modern energy medicine has clearly pointed out that an imbalance in the 5th chakra can manifest all kinds of throat related maladies. It is also the zone of self expression and speaking the truth .So what does this actually mean ? The throat is an amplifier of sound. It emanates compression waves in space traditionally associated with truth, freedom of expression, with speaking your will – as well as manifesting your will. Sound organises and disorganises matter. It does not require many words to speak the truth Chief Joseph, Nez Perce (1840-1904) This months composer’s choice Clouds Passing By has been written for you to sing to. Here’s what to do:Power Up Your Spoken Word with G – by Stephen Fearnley
Slow Light in A – by Stephen Fearnley
For this months composer’s choice, Slow Light in A , I’ve once again returned to the Australian landscape for my inspiration: The south-east coastline of Tasmania , Australia, is windswept and wild and even when the sea is being whipped-up into a freezing-spray, one can still see the coastline for miles… Far-sight and long plateaus of purples with swells of blue and highlights in ochre. Calming, unwinding and horizontal landforms- the biggest skies you ever did see. ‘Slow-light’ because even with a gale blowing the clouds and shafts of sun are somehow moving slo-mo in this vast panorama. View from Cape Bruny Lighthouse, Tasmania– photo by Stephen Fearnley, June 2016 The sheer size of this landscape also sets the tempo for the music: A slow unfolding, up and down the scale of A major with 10 instruments interweaving at random intervals over a 40 minute cycle at 52 beats per minute. Each interaction never repeating – always slightly different, like a biosphere made of sound waves which you sit inside off and simply, easily, relax. ‘A’ is traditionally regarded as the key for stimulating the third eye. Slow Light in A will assist you in softening your tensions and bringing downSlow Light in A – by Stephen Fearnley