“GRATITUDE is SO VERY therapeutic .The world changes around you…” This month’s composer’s choice is called Gratitude. Im just about to start a practise-led Masters of Philosophy at Notre Dame University Sydney. A practise led masters is based on, in my case, a 50% practical component which will culminate in an exhibition of works and/or a musical performance and recording. Of course I have to come up with an idea/theme to pursue which will sustain a whole lot of investigation and nuts and bolts work. My mind has been racing : Will I investigate the negative space or the “void” in western and eastern art ? Or what about delving into the world of western and eastern mystics and how prayer and meditation have been explored ? What about cymatics, musical frequency and sacred geometry… Just a few topics out of many that are knocking on my brain door… In our live broadcast a few weeks ago ( go here to listen to the precession chat ) I discussed a dream I had where there was a little black spot on my right eye which I could not remove. Being a big Jung fan I knew that my subconscious was sending aThe Gift of Gratitude – by Stephen Fearnley
The VOID in Art, Music and Meditation – by Stephen Fearnley
When you do an image search in google for the word “VOID” you get a plethora of black holes and nasty vortices . “The Void in Art” is even more apocalyptic. It seems to indicate that the idea of “ nothingness” is a scary place to go- that “the space” always needs to be filled… In Art we call it negative space and in music it’s referred to as silence or the pause or the absence of noise. In Meditation its called antar mouna – The stillness of a calm mind. This months’s composer’s choice ‘Sapphire’ is all about the void. Its like musical facets of light and reflections appearing out of white space or silence. I’ve imagined a misty world with nature emerging from the whiteness, much like a chinese calligraphic landscape. In the East – the white background is the negative space or VOID. It is a representation of nothingness or the place from which all forms emerge. Its a way of illustrating a cosmological point of view- as well as simply making a beautiful picture. There is also a rhythm in this composition that refers to a Shishi Odoshi – a Japanese bamboo garden feature which whenThe VOID in Art, Music and Meditation – by Stephen Fearnley
A Meditation In D Minor – by Stephen Fearnley
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