New-age music
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| - | '''New Age music''' was originally a [[genre]] of music of a [[mystical]] [[nature]], associated with [[New Age]] [[philosophy|philosophies]] in the style of European musicians [[Tangerine Dream]] or [[Vangelis]] . Now usually associated with a genre of [[relaxing]] music with elements of [[world music]]. | + | '''New-age music''' is a genre of music intended to create [[artistic inspiration]], [[relaxation technique|relaxation]], and [[optimism]]. It is used by listeners for [[yoga]], [[massage]], [[meditation]], and [[Reading (process)|reading]] as a method of [[stress management]] or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is associated with [[environmentalism]] and [[New Age|New Age spirituality]]. The [[harmonies]] in new-age music include a [[Drone (music)|drone]] bass, and are often structured as variations on a theme. The music often contains recorded sounds of nature and used as an introduction to a track or throughout the piece. |
| - | ==Influences and themes== | + | |
| - | From 1968 to 1973, German musicians such as [[Holger Czukay]] (a former student of [[Karlheinz Stockhausen]]), [[Popol Vuh (German band)|Popol Vuh]] and [[Ash Ra Tempel|Ashra]] released a number of works featuring experimental sounds and textures build with ''"electronics"'', synthesizers, acoustic and electric instruments; their music, referred to as [[kosmische musik|Cosmic music]] can be regarded as Ambient or New Age, depending on point of view. Later [[Brian Eno]] defined the styles and patterns of Ambient in a way that easily merged and co-developed with the styles of many musicians such as [[Robert Fripp]], [[Jon Hassell]], [[Harold Budd]], [[Jah Wobble]] from late 1970s to today. | + | |
| - | Other influences are early electronic music, [[classical music]], [[ethnic music]] and [[world music]]. | + | New age includes both [[electronic music|electronic]] forms, frequently relying on sustained [[synth pad]]s or long [[Music sequencer|sequencer]]-based runs, and [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] forms, featuring instruments such as flutes, piano, acoustic guitar and a wide variety of non-western acoustic instruments. Vocal arrangements were initially rare in new age, but as it has evolved vocals have become more common, especially vocals featuring [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]]-, [[Sanskrit]]-, or [[Tibetan Music|Tibetan]]-influenced chants, or lyrics based on [[mythology]] such as [[Celtic mythology|Celtic legends]]. |
| - | The [[minimalist music|minimalism]] of [[Terry Riley]] and [[Steve Reich]] ([[India]]n influenced in the former case) can also be cited as an influence, along with artists like [[Tony Conrad]], [[LaMonte Young]] who utilized drones since the early [[1960s]]. Connected to the creation of New Age music is the resurgence of interest in [[Gregorian chant]] during the second half of the [[20th century]]. Now, New Age music has branched out and also includes chanting of "spiritual" or ancient languages, and includes, but is not limited to Sanskrit, Latin, Gaelic and Hebrew. Popular artists in this genre include: [[Krishna Das]], [[Deva Premal]], and [[Bhagavan Das]]. | + | |
| - | The solo [[ECM Records|ECM]] performances by artists like [[Keith Jarrett]] (especially his record [[The Köln Concert]]), [[Ralph Towner]] (especially his records ''Blue Sun'' and ''Solo Concert'') and [[Lyle Mays]]'s first eponymous album, are usually thought to be an influence on Ambient/New Age music. | + | New-age music was influenced by a wide range of artists from a variety of genres. Irv Teibel's ''[[Environments (series)|Environments]]'' series (1969–79) featured natural [[soundscape]]s, [[tintinnabulation]], and "[[Om]]" chants and were some of the first publicly available [[psychoacoustics|psychoacoustic]] recordings. In 1973, [[Mike Oldfield]]'s progressive rock album ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' became one of the first albums to be referred to under the genre description of new age. [[Steven Halpern]]'s 1975 ''Spectrum Suite'' was a key work that began the new-age music movement. By 1989, there were over 150 small independent record labels releasing new-age music. |
| + | ==See also== | ||
| - | The acoustic solo and group performances by the early [[Windham Hill]] artists such as [[Andy Summers]], [[William Ackerman]], [[Alex de Grassi]], [[George Winston]], and [[Michael Hedges]] were called ''New Age '' for much of the last 30 years. | + | * [[Adult contemporary music]] |
| - | + | * [[Ambient music]] | |
| - | Popular themes in New Age music include space and the cosmos, environment and nature, wellness in being, harmony with one's self and the world, [[dreams]] or dreaming and journeys of the mind or spirit. Titles of New Age songs are frequently descriptive: examples include ''[[Principles of Lust]]'' ([[Enigma (musical project)|Enigma]]), ''[[Shepherd Moons]]'' ([[Enya]]), ''Straight' a Way To Orion'' ([[Kitaro]]), and ''[[One Deep Breath]]'' ([[Bradley Joseph]]). | + | * [[List of new-age music artists]] |
| + | * [[Lounge music]] | ||
| + | * [[Meditation music]] | ||
| + | * [[New Age]] | ||
| + | * ''[[Pure Moods]]'', a popular 1990s new-age music compilation album. | ||
| + | * [[Sentimental ballad]] | ||
| + | * [[Space music]] | ||
| + | * [[Vaporwave]] | ||
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Revision as of 16:02, 9 December 2020
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New-age music is a genre of music intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is associated with environmentalism and New Age spirituality. The harmonies in new-age music include a drone bass, and are often structured as variations on a theme. The music often contains recorded sounds of nature and used as an introduction to a track or throughout the piece.
New age includes both electronic forms, frequently relying on sustained synth pads or long sequencer-based runs, and acoustic forms, featuring instruments such as flutes, piano, acoustic guitar and a wide variety of non-western acoustic instruments. Vocal arrangements were initially rare in new age, but as it has evolved vocals have become more common, especially vocals featuring Native American-, Sanskrit-, or Tibetan-influenced chants, or lyrics based on mythology such as Celtic legends.
New-age music was influenced by a wide range of artists from a variety of genres. Irv Teibel's Environments series (1969–79) featured natural soundscapes, tintinnabulation, and "Om" chants and were some of the first publicly available psychoacoustic recordings. In 1973, Mike Oldfield's progressive rock album Tubular Bells became one of the first albums to be referred to under the genre description of new age. Steven Halpern's 1975 Spectrum Suite was a key work that began the new-age music movement. By 1989, there were over 150 small independent record labels releasing new-age music.
See also
- Adult contemporary music
- Ambient music
- List of new-age music artists
- Lounge music
- Meditation music
- New Age
- Pure Moods, a popular 1990s new-age music compilation album.
- Sentimental ballad
- Space music
- Vaporwave
